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Laura Rozek

Laura S. Rozek, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor in Environmental Health Sciences

6630 SPH Tower      Vcard icon
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2029

Office: (734) 615-9816; Fax: (734) 763-8095

E-mail: rozekl@umich.edu

Website(s): Rozek Lab Website

Curriculum Vitae (PDF)

Courses Taught

EHS504: Genes and the Environment
EHS601: Foundations in Environmental Health Sciences

Education

Ph.D., Epidemiologic Sciences, University of Michigan, 2004
M.S., Statistics, University of Michigan, 2004
M.S., Epidemiology, University of Washington, 1999
B.S., University of Notre Dame, Biology, 1994

Research Interests & Projects

> > Dolinoy Lab - Environmental Epigenetics and Nutrition (Member)

It is increasingly recognized that environmental exposure to chemical, nutritional, and behavioral factors alters gene expression and affects health and disease by not only mutating promoter and coding regions of genes, but also by modifying the epigenome — modifications to DNA that confer an additional layer of heritable gene regulation that lead to disease when deregulated. The Dolinoy Lab investigates environmental epigenetics and gene-environment interactions using animal models, human clinical samples, and human population studies. Specifically, research focuses on ... More >>

 

> > Head and neck cancer (Principal Investigator)

Project PI: Laura S. Rozek Description: Head and neck cancer, affecting the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, salivary glands, throat, or larynx (voice box), is the 4th most prevalent type of cancer. Interestingly, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) serves a protective effect and influences both prognosis and treatment methodology. This project aims to understand the epigenomic dysregulation associated with head and neck cancers, and how these changes are modulated by HPV.... More >>

 

> > Environmental and Epigenomic Profiling of Pre-Adolescent Females in Rural Versus Urban Egyptian Populations (UM EHS Pilot Grant) (Co-Principal Investigator)

Pre-pubertal females are particularly vulnerable to environmental influence on the epigenome due to mammary gland growth and differentiation. Similarly, genetic variation, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), can modify the toxicokinetics of chemical uptake, distribution, and elimination. Our overarching hypothesis is that epigenetic and genetic differences contribute to interindividual variation in BPA and phthalate exposure profiles. Building upon ongoing epidemiological and exposure studies in Gharbiah, Egypt, the two specific aims of this pilot project are: 1) Characterize pre-adolescent female exposure ... More >>

 

> > Alzheimer's disease (Co-Principal Investigator)

This project combines comprehensive lead exposure measurements, APP-pathway gene-specific epigenetic approaches, and genome-wide epigenomic approaches in a novel investigation capitalizing on resources of the MADRC, the Michigan Claude D. Pepper Geriatrics Center, and the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC).... More >>

 

> > In Utero Exposure to Bisphenol A: Effects on the Fetal Epigenome (Co-Investigator)

The overall objective of this grant application is to identify species, dose, and tissue-specific epigenome-wide alterations following gestational exposure to bisphenol a (BPA), a high production volume chemical used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, and to map developmentally labile epigenetic genes in order to facilitate human health risk assessment and human disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.... More >>

 

Selected Publications

Search PubMed for publications by Laura Rozek >>

Gruber, S.B., Moreno, V., Rozek, L.S., Rennert, H.S., Lejbkowicz, F., Bonner, J.D., Greenson, J.K., Giordanoa, T.J., Feardon, ER. and Rennert, G. (2007). Genetics variation in 8q24 associated with risk of colorectal cancer. Cancer Biolological Therapy, 6(7)

Rozek, L.S., Rennert, G. and Gruber, S.B. (2006). APC E1317Q is not associated with colorectal cancer in a population-based case-control study in northern Isreael. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers Prev, 15(11), 2325-2327.

Rozek, L.S., Hatsukami, T.S., Richter, R.J., Louie, A. Schellenberg, G.D., Furlong, C.E. and Jarvik, G.P. (2005). The correlation of paraoxonase (PON1) enzyme activities with plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels differs for subjects with and without vascular disease. Journal Lipid Research, 46(9), 1888-95.

Rozek, L.S., Lipkin, S.M., Fearon, E.R., Hanash, S., Giordano, T., Kuich, R., Misek, D., Taylor, J.M.G., Rennert, G. and Gruber, S.B. (2005). CDX2 polymorphisms, RNA expression, and risk of colorectal cancer. Cancer Research, 65(13), 5488-92.

Lipkin, S.M., Rozek, L.S., Rennert, W.Y., Peng-Chieh, H.J., Hunt, N., Shin, B., Fodor, S., Kokoris, M., Greenson, J.K., Fearson, E., Lynch, H., Collins, F.S. and Gruber, S.B. (2004). The MLH1 D132H variant is associated with susceptibility to sporadic colorectal cancer. Nat Genetics, 36(7), 694-9.