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Dr. Krystle A. Lang Kuhs, PhD, MPH is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health. Dr. Kuhs is also Co-Leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at the Markey Cancer Center.  

Dr. Kuhs joined the College in August 2020 and is a molecular epidemiologist. Her program focuses on developing novel molecular predictors of head and neck cancer risk, response to treatment and risk of recurrence, with a particular focus on head and neck cancers caused by infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV).  

In 2012, Dr. Kuhs joined the NCI Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch where she conducted research focused on human papillomavirus (HPV). Dr. Kuhs has earned several awards for research excellence including the NIH Fellows Award for Research Excellence, American Society of Prevention Oncology New Investigator Award, NCI Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics Award for Research Excellence and the NIH Intramural Research Award.  

Dr. Kuhs has also received several internal and external grants. Dr. Kuhs is currently the principal investigator of a K07 Mentored Career Development Award from the NCI and an R01 from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). 

Dr. Kuhs received her PhD in biomedical sciences from the University of Pennsylvania in 2011. Her thesis focused on the development of novel cancer vaccines to prevent hepatitis C infection and resulted in 4 patented vaccines. 

Following her PhD, Dr. Kuhs was selected for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program. Through this program, Dr. Kuhs received a Master of Public Health in 2012 from Johns Hopkins University where she concentrated in Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

Education

  • BS, Biology, Chemistry
    • University of Rhode Island
  • PhD, Biomedical Sciences
    • University of Pennsylvania
  • MPH, Concentration in Epidemiology and Biostatistics
    • Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • Cancer Prevention Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
    • National Cancer Institute

Research Interests

  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-driven cancers, particularly oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC)
  • Head and neck cancer

External Links

In the News

New consortium to advance research on infectious disease prevention, treatment

The Consortium for Understanding and Reducing Infectious Diseases in Kentucky (CURE-KY) will foster multidisciplinary collaborations to address the burden of infectious diseases in the Commonwealth and beyond.

Markey study reveals extent of undiagnosed cancer cases due to COVID-19 pandemic

More than 134,000 cancer cases went undiagnosed in the U.S. during the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center study.

Researchers Collaborate To Understand Changes in HPV Viruses and Survival of Throat Cancer Patients

Small viral changes can have a significant impact on the ability of a virus to infect other people and to cause more severe disease.