Faculty

Background and Expertise:

Dr. Ragin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology. Cancer mortality rates in developing countries and among populations of African descent remains to be an important public health issue for Dr. Ragin. She completed her undergraduate studies in Medical Laboratory Sciences, from Hunter College of the City University of New York. She is an alumnus of the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health where she completed her Ph.D. in infectious diseases and microbiology and MPH in epidemiology. This very rare but exciting combination of skills has enabled Dr. Ragin to apply molecular markers in epidemiological studies.

Dr. Ragin is committed to the improvement of cancer prevention and treatment strategies in order to reduce the disparities among minority populations. Her research focuses on viral-gene interactions and cancer health disparities. She is involved in numerous studies related to Human Papillomavirus in cervical, lung and oropharyngeal cancers as well as Human Herpesvirus 8 in prostate cancer. Dr. Ragin is a native of the Caribbean, Jamaica, and has had first hand experience and can relate to the limited resources that often times lead to a lack in quality of preventative healthcare and education. She is the principal investigator of the African-Caribbean Cancer Consortium (AC3) project (www.ac-ca-consortium.org) that involves the conduct of a number of epidemiological studies in the US, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Vincent, The US Virgin Islands and Nigeria. The AC3 focuses on studies of viral and genetic risk factors related to cancer in populations of African descent.

Medline Link

Listed articles on MedLine »

Current projects page

HPV exposure in partners and risk of HPV-associated head and neck cancer

Investigation of oral HPV infection and exposures related to sexual lifestyle as well as the relationship between genital HPV infection and HPV+ head and neck cancer.

Second primary cancers in cervical cancer patients

Investigation of the risk of second primary head and neck or lung tumors among women with a first diagnosis of cervical cancer.

Investigating the role of HPV in lung carcinomas

Investigation of gene-viral interactions and gender differences in lung cancer.

Gene-viral-environment interactions and in head and neck cancer

Characterization of the relationship between HPV, tobacco exposure and the activity of phase I and II enzymes and define their combined effect on head and neck cancer risk.

African-Caribbean Cancer Consortium (AC3)

A consortium established for the study of viral, genetic and other environmental risk factors for cancer in populations of African descent. This is a collaborative and project involving investigators from the United States, Africa and Caribbean. The ongoing AC3 projects are listed on the website www.ac-ca-consortium.org.

Data Analysis of Chernobyl Clinical Registry:

Analysis of Cancer Incidence, Comorbid Conditions, and Behavioral factors in evacuees.

Environmental Oncology Partnership:

The primary goal of this project is to initiate, instruct and reinforce Hampton University undergraduate students' potential roles as cancer epidemiology researchers and/or health professionals.