Epidemiologist Erin Bowles, MPH, is looking at cancer and aging from many different perspectives. Her research brings new insight into breast cancer risk factors, treatment, and survivorship, while helping improve cancer care for patients and families.
Ms. Bowles received an R50 mid-career research award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This award is given to cancer researchers who have demonstrated successes and contributions to cancer researcher as a non-principal investigator. As a key member of two large cancer collaborations—the NCI's Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium and the Health Care Systems Cancer Research Network (CRN)—Ms. Bowles has developed diverse expertise that includes reading mammograms for breast density and using administrative data to understand patterns of care in cancer treatment.
Her current work includes:
Ms. Bowles' experience working with large cancer cohorts has provided her with expertise in data collection and management for other subject areas. She is a co-investigator on the Adult Changes in Thought study team, and oversees their living laboratory and data sharing for aging research, along with an annual research symposium. Finally, she is a member of the Kaiser Permanente Research Affiliates Evidence-based Practice Center and has participated in systematic evidence reviews for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Breast cancer; colorectal cancer; multiple myeloma; thyroid cancer; pancreatic cancer; biostatistics; epidemiology; mammography; mammographic breast density; cancer treatment; cancer screening and surveillance; automated data collection; quality of care; medication use; care coordination; administrative data
Access to care; health disparities; health outcomes research; quality of life; measurement of change in health care systems; practice variation
Menopause; hormone replacement therapy (HRT); breast cancer
Cognitive health and dementia; biostatistics; epidemiology; medication use; cancer
Pharmacoepidemiology; observational study research methods; chemotherapy; radiation exposure
Marlow EC, Ducore J, Kwan ML, Cheng SY, Bowles EJA, Greenlee RT, Pole JD, Rahm AK, Stout NK, Weinmann S, Smith-Bindman R, Miglioretti DL. Leukemia risk in a cohort of 3.9 million children with and without Down syndrome. J Pediatr. 2021 Mar 5:S0022-3476(21)00212-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.03.001. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Wernli KJ, Bowles EA, Knerr S, Leppig KA, Ehrlich K, Gao H, Schwartz MD, O’Neill SC. Characteristics associated with participation in Engaged 2 - a web-based breast cancer risk communication and decision support trial. Perm J. 2020 Dec;24:1-4. doi: 10.7812/TPP/19.205. PubMed
Wernli KJ, Knerr S, Li T, Leppig K, Ehrlich K, Farrell D, Gao H, Bowles EA, Graham AL, Luta G, Jayasekera J, Mandelblatt JS, Schwartz MD, O’Neill SC. Effect of personalized breast cancer risk tool on chemoprevention and breast imaging: ENGAGED-2 trial. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2021 Jan 14;5(1):pkaa114. doi: 10.1093/jncics/pkaa114. eCollection 2021 Feb. PubMed
Wang RC, Miglioretti DL, Marlow EC, Kwan ML, Theis MK, Bowles EJA, Greenlee RT, Rahm AK, Stout NK, Weinmann S, Smith-Bindman R. Trends in imaging for suspected pulmonary embolism across U.S. health care systems, 2004 to 2016. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(11):e2026930. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.26930. PubMed
Mahorter SS, Knerr S, Bowles EJA, Wernli KJ, Gao H, Schwartz MD, O'Neill SC. Prior breast density awareness, knowledge, and communication in a health system-embedded behavioral intervention trial. Cancer. 2020 Apr 15;126(8):1614-1621. doi: 10.1002/cncr.32711. Epub 2020 Jan 24. PubMed
Gray SL, Marcum ZA, Dublin S, Walker R, Golchin N, Rosenberg DE, Bowles EJ, Crane P, Larson EB. Association between medications acting on the central nervous system and fall-related injuries in community dwelling older adults: a new user cohort study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2020 Apr 17;75(5):1003-1009. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glz270. PubMed
There’s much confusion about the new disease, but numbers don’t lie. The challenge is finding the right ones.
A Kaiser Permanente-led BCSC study is among the largest ever to evaluate adding MRI surveillance for breast cancer survivors.
Kaiser Permanente Washington has been part of the national Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium since 1994. Learn about the Kaiser Permanente Washington Breast Cancer Surveillance Registry here.
HealthDay, Jul 24, 2019