Jennifer Ritonja
Academic Rank(s)
Assistant Professor (Partner), PhD
Phone
jritonja@bccrc.ca
Location
2206 East Mall Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3
Dr. Jennifer Ritonja, Scientist at the BC Cancer Research Institute, has been appointed as an Assistant Professor (Partner) in the School of Population and Public Health.
Dr. Ritonja’s research program specializes in identifying modifiable risk factors for cancer prevention in women using a variety of epidemiologic techniques. She holds an MSc and PhD in epidemiology from Queen’s University where she studied night shift work as a possible carcinogen, and conducted her postdoctoral training at McGill University and CRCHUM examining lifestyle risk factors across the life course and ovarian cancer risk. She is a recipient of the Cancer Research Society’s Next Generation of Scientists Award, and her work has been recognized with awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Santé.
My research program aims to identify modifiable risk factors for cancer prevention among women. I use life course and molecular epidemiologic approaches to understand how biological, behavioural, and environmental exposures influence cancer risk across the lifespan. My current research focuses on breast and ovarian cancers and uses various population‑based study designs, including case-control and prospective cohorts. Through my research, I aim to generate evidence that can inform prevention strategies and ultimately improve women’s health. Ongoing projects include investigating the role of breast density, migraines, and night shift work in relation to cancer risk.
GLBH 503 – Epidemiology and Biostatistics in Global Health