Ann Zauber, PhD

Current Research Interests

Dr. Zauber’s primary research focus is identifying and assessing ways to prevent and reduce the burden of colorectal cancer incidence and mortality, specifically through screening and surveillance. Her work involves population-based statistical modeling and precision medicine to identify effective and cost-effective screening strategies in order to better inform health policy and randomized clinical trials. Dr. Zauber leads the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) colorectal group, a multi-center group of microsimulation modelers sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. Her team conducted decision analyses for the 2008 and 2016 United States Preventive Services Task Force’s colorectal cancer screening recommendations on optimal age to begin and end screening, screening intervals, and screening modalities. Recently her modeling group conducted a decision analysis for the American Cancer Society for age to begin screening given the rising incidence rates for colorectal cancer in younger cohorts. The American Cancer Society recommended lowering the age to begin CRC screening from age 50 to age 45. The CISNET decision analyses have also informed colorectal cancer screening strategies for higher risk populations such as those with Cystic Fibrosis or Lynch Syndrome. Dr. Zauber and her CISNET team have worked closely with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on colorectal cancer screening and prevention, and the cost-effectiveness of available and novel screening tests in average and genetically predisposed (high risk) populations. Other publications include assessment of the impact of a co-pay loophole on colonoscopy screening for Medicare beneficiaries, and projection of colorectal cancer incidence and mortality reductions if 80% of US population were screened by 2018. Dr. Zauber is also a leader in screening studies. She was the Principal Investigator for the National Colonoscopy Study, a multi-center randomized controlled trial for screening colonoscopy and fecal occult blood test, and a co-Principal Investigator on the NCI PROSPR I consortium. She demonstrated in the National Polyp Study that removal of adenomas, the precursor lesion of colorectal cancer, reduces both incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer. She served on the advisory panel for the colorectal cancer screening recommendations for the International Agency for Cancer Research.  Additionally, Dr. Zauber continues to serve as lead biostatistician on many national and international studies including, the Nordic-European Initiative on Colorectal Cancer, and a pilot study on screening in Nigeria. She is a Fellow of the American Statistical Association and of the American Gastroenterology Association.