Rulla Tamimi, ScD

Overview

Rulla Tamimi, ScD, MS, is the Division Chief of Epidemiology in the Department of Population Health Sciences, and the Associate Director for Population Science at the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center. As a cancer epidemiologist, she works closely with an interdisciplinary group of investigators to study cancer risk and survival with the goal of reducing morbidity and mortality.

Prior to joining Weill Cornell Medicine, she was an Associate Professor of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Associate Professor in Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. While there, she led research on cancer in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) cohort for the last 14 years, including work on lifestyle risk factors, biomarkers, genetics and gene expression. She was the Director of the NHS Tissue and Mammogram Repository for nearly a decade. Her research focus is to understand breast cancer risk and prognosis by utilizing molecular and imaging markers in epidemiologic studies. As PI of multiple NIH-funded grants to understand risk factors for breast cancer, her group has identified a number of genetic, molecular and lifestyle predictors of breast cancer risk and survival.

Highlights

1
Journal of the National Cancer Institute · 2022
RTRulla Tamimi
PMID: 35876790PMCID: PMC9552206DOISenior author52 citations
2
Journal of the National Cancer Institute · 2019
KKKevin Kensler LCLaura C. Collins RTRulla Tamimi
PMID: 30445651PMCID: PMC6624168DOISenior author58 citations
3
NPJ breast cancer · 2021
OZOana Zeleznik RTRulla Tamimi
PMID: 34059687PMCID: PMC8166859DOISenior author20 citations

Publications

529

Funding

28 View NIH portfolio on RePORTER ↗

Active

11 grants

Sub-PI
The role of breast stem cells in early stages of breast carcinogenesis.
National Cancer Institute · 2026–2031 · via University of Florida
R01CA313427-01
Co-I
Bridging Gaps and Transforming CARE for Young Breast Cancer Survivors and those with Metastatic Disease
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · 2024–2029
No publications yet
NU58DP007916-01-00
Sub-PI
Environmental and social determinants of mammographic features
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences · 2024–2029 · via Harvard University
R01ES035736-03
Co-I
Structural Racism and Cardiovascular Outcomes Among Cancer Survivors
National Cancer Institute · 2024–2029
R37CA288492-01
Sub-PI
Stromal Contributions to Breast Carcinogenesis
National Cancer Institute · 2023–2028 · via University of Florida
R01CA277817-04
MPI
Artificial Intelligence and Precision Nutrition Training Program
NICHD · 2023–2028 · via NIH RePORTER
T32HD113301-04
MPI
Center for SOcial CApital (SOCA): Promoting Multigenerational Health
National Cancer Institute · 2023–2028
U54CA280808-04
MPI
Clinical and Translational Science Center - UL1
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences · 2022–2027
UL1TR002384-06
PI
Prediagnostic Exposures, Germline Genetics, And Triple Negative Breast Cancer Mutational And Immune Profiles
National Cancer Institute · 2021–2027
U01CA260352-05
PI
Weight management, metabolomics signatures and breast cancer risk and survival
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. · 2025–2027
SAC210104
Co-I
State opioid limits, formulary design, and intended and unintended consequences for people with cancer
American Cancer Society · 2023–2026
RSGI-22-130-01-HOPS

Completed grants (17)

PI
Insulin-suppressing diets to reduce breast cancer risk and mortality
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. · 2022–2025
SAC210104
Sub-PI
Integration of genetic, gene expression and environmental data to inform biological basis of mammographic density
National Cancer Institute · 2021–2025 · via University of Washington, The
R01CA244670-04
PI
Novel Approaches to Advancing Health Equity in Cancer Control Tri-Campus Symposium
Cornell University · 2024–2024
CUI 235846-01
Sub-PI
The Role of Breast Stem Cells in Breast Cancer Etiology and Risk Prediction
National Cancer Institute · 2020–2024 · via University of Florida
R01CA240341-04
Sub-PI
Precision Prevention Through Artificial Intelligence-Based Risk Assessment
Breast Cancer Research Foundation · 2020–2023 · via The General Hospital Corporation (dba Massachusetts General Hospital)
PPI-18-001
Sub-PI
Project 1: Breast Cancer of the program project: Dietary and Hormonal Determinants of Cancer in Women .
National Cancer Institute · 2020–2021 · via The Brigham & Women's Hospital INC· 2 renewals
P01CA087969-20
Sub-PI
The Effects of Vitamin D on Mammographic Density and Breast Tissue
National Cancer Institute · 2020–2021 · via The Brigham & Women's Hospital INC
R01CA178263-05
Sub-PI
Genomic and Morphologic Predictor of High-Risk DCIS
National Cancer Institute · 2020–2021 · via Stanford University Medical Center
R01CA193694-05
Sub-PI
Adolescent and early adulthood dietary patterns and effects on breast cancer intermediate endpoints/risk factors
Breast Cancer Research Foundation · 2020–2020 · via Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
No publications yet
FHCRC 203865-01
PI
Mammographic density and texture features in relation to breast cancer risk
NCI · 2013–2019 · via NIH RePORTER
R01CA175080-04
PI
Computational pathology to predict breast cancer risk in benign breast disease
NCI · 2015–2017 · via NIH RePORTER
R21CA187642-02
PI
Discovery, Biology and Risk of Inherited Variants in Breast Cancer
NCI · 2010–2016 · via NIH RePORTER
U19CA148065-04S1
PI
The effects of randomized, low-dose hormone therapy on mammographic density in KE
NCI · 2010–2015 · via NIH RePORTER
R01CA136918-05
PI
Whole Genome Association Study of Mammographic Density
NCI · 2009–2014 · via NIH RePORTER
R01CA131332-04
PI
Molecular Predictors of Mammographic Density
NCI · 2008–2014 · via NIH RePORTER
R01CA124865-04
PI
Benign Breast Disease and Risk of Breast Cancer
NCI · 1987–2011 · via NIH RePORTER
R01CA046475-18
PI
Vitamin D and Mammographic Density
NCI · 2006–2009 · via NIH RePORTER
R03CA121360-02

Clinical research

Active

12 studies

PI
Barriers and facilitators to physical activity among breast cancer survivors
Weill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2026)
PI
Clinical Factors and Imaging Features Associated with Inflammatory Breast Cancer Risk and Outcomes
Weill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2026)
PI
Evaluating Food Insecurity Among Gastrointestinal Oncology Patients
Columbia University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2025)
PI
Retrospective Review of Metabolic Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Weight Management Services
Weill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2025)
PI
National Cancer Database 2019 dataset looking at cancer related health disparities - BRANYplus transfer
National Cancer Institute · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2025)
PI
Bridge2Quit: Empowering low-income smokers on the path to quitting (phase 2)
Columbia University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2025)
PI
Weight management strategies and mammographic imaging features
Weill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2025)
PI
Bridge2Quit
Columbia University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2025)
PI
Utilizing Retrospective Mammographic Images to Evaluate Texture Features in Breast Screening Patients
Weill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2022)
PI
Prediagnostic factors and breast cancer mutational and immune profiles
Weill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2022)
PI
Descriptive Analysis of Cancers in NYC using the SEER Database
Weill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2022)
PI
Benign Breast Disease and Risk of Breast Cancer in the NHS I and NHS II
Weill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2020)

Completed & closed trials (1)

PI
Psychosocial Consequences of Breast Health Delays Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Weill Medical College of Cornell University · CLOSED TO ACCRUAL (as of 2022)

News mentions

3 View all WCM news ↗

Dr. Laura C. Pinheiro Named Cancer Moonshot Scholar
November 7, 2024
The award seeks to increase the number of early-stage investigators and enhance the diversity of the cancer research workforce to accelerate the fight against cancer.
National Cancer Institute Grant Targets Cancer Disparities
June 26, 2023
The $9.8 million, five-year grant awarded to Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University will help combat cancer disparities fueled by persistent poverty.
Department of Population Health Sciences Established at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
July 22, 2020
Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian have realigned the Department of Healthcare Policy and Research to address the intersection of research and practice. The newly named Department of Population Health Sciences, led by distinguished health services researcher, information scientist and leader Dr. Rainu Kaushal, aims to improve the health of populations through data-driven research, innovative technology and novel education programs.

Mentoring

1 All publications with mentees →

SA
Shadi Azam
Postdoc mentee · since 2022
- Longitudinal Analysis of Changes in Deep Learning Image-based Breast Cancer Risk Scores over Time.
  Radiology · 2026
- Performance of an image-only deep learning breast cancer risk model with the addition of a polygenic risk score.
  British journal of cancer · 2026
- The impact of social drivers of health on delayed time to breast cancer surgery.
  British journal of cancer · 2026
View all 6 →

External relationships

Other

British Journal of Cancer · Medara · Sterigenics U.S., LLC