# Alcohol and Breast Cancer: Genetic Interactions and Effects on Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy

> **NIH NIH K01** · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · 2020 · $162,623

## Abstract

Project Summary
 My long-term goal is to become an independent researcher in the epidemiology of health effects of
alcohol, and particularly its role in cancer. I am proposing this K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development
Award to fulfill a series of training objectives which build upon my prior skills, but also expand my skills in ways
which are essential to accomplishing my long-term goal. My training goals for this award are to: (1) develop a
solid foundation in the use and interpretation of genetic data, with a focus on gene-environment interactions;
(2) develop an understanding of the pathophysiology and treatments for breast cancer (BC) to assess and
characterize cancer outcomes in epidemiologic studies; and (3) develop expertise in the design, conduct, and
analysis of randomized clinical trials. To achieve my training objectives, I have assembled a comprehensive
and complementary mentorship team with expertise in genetics, alcohol, sex hormones, BC and clinical trials. I
will also participate in additional activities to further support my career development including coursework, lab
meetings, training in the responsible conduct of research, grant writing, and presenting research at
professional conferences.
 I will apply my training to conduct studies that explore whether there are factors that modify the
association between alcohol and BC. There is consistent evidence of higher BC risk associated with daily
alcohol intake, even within the recommended limit of up to one drink per day. However, important gaps in
knowledge remain about whether there are factors that modify the association between alcohol and BC. This
application will leverage existing data to study BC risk among women followed in epidemiological cohorts to
test novel scientific questions about gene-environment interactions, using a candidate gene approach and a
hypothesis-free genome-wide approach to identifying potential modifiers.
 In addition, the proposed training award will support an 8-week pilot crossover trial of 20 BC survivors
who report that they regularly consume at least one alcoholic beverage per week and are currently prescribed
aromatase inhibitor therapy. This trial will utilize the experienced clinical research center and large number of
BC survivors receiving treatment at the institutions involved in this training award to generate pilot data that
may inform a larger trial about the effects of alcohol on BC treatment.
 The training, mentorship, research experience, and opportunity to collect pilot data in this K01 award
will allow me to achieve my long-term career goal of becoming an independent research in the epidemiology of
health effects of alcohol and particularly its role in cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9999383
- **Project number:** 5K01AA027831-02
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth Mostofsky
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $162,623
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9999383

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9999383, Alcohol and Breast Cancer: Genetic Interactions and Effects on Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy (5K01AA027831-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9999383. Licensed CC0.

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