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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nExploring diet and cancer risk<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n During my time at the University of Oxford as a postdoctoral epidemiologist, I worked on large-scale collaborative studies exploring diet and cancer risk, including the Vegetarian Pooling Project<\/em>. This international collaboration brings together data from more than two million participants across multiple cohorts worldwide to explore how different dietary patterns \u2014 such as vegetarian, pescatarian, and meat-eating \u2014 relate to site-specific cancer risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our first publication from this work focused on sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health characteristics of participants with different diet groups across the participating cohorts.1<\/sup> The study highlighted substantial variation between diet groups, underlining the importance of considering these factors when examining links between diet and disease. A second paper, examining diet and cancer risk, is currently under review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier in my career, I also examined the associations between specific foods and the risk of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers in the UK Women\u2019s Cohort Study. The research found that higher intakes of processed and total meat were linked with increased cancer risk, while higher intakes of tomatoes and dried fruit were associated with a lower risk.2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n My current research at Newcastle<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, as a Faculty Fellow at Newcastle University, my work focuses on understanding the relationship between diet and colorectal polyps as part of the COLO-COHORT study<\/em> \u2014 an ongoing project aiming to improve the early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cancer continues to affect millions of people worldwide and can often appear without warning, profoundly impacting individuals and families. This unpredictability reinforces the importance of identifying modifiable factors \u2014 such as diet \u2014 that could help prevent cancer or improve outcomes after diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In recent years, there has also been growing interest in the gut microbiome \u2014 the community of microorganisms living in our intestines \u2014 and its potential role in cancer development and prevention. What we eat can influence the composition and function of these microbes, which in turn may affect disease risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alongside my current work, I recently co-authored a systematic review examining the relationship between the faecal microbiome and colorectal neoplasia in shotgun metagenomic studies.3<\/sup> The review highlighted consistent alterations in microbial composition between individuals with colorectal neoplasia and healthy controls, supporting growing evidence that the gut microbiome may play a role in early detection and prevention. This work complements my ongoing research in COLO-COHORT, where we are exploring how dietary factors might interact with the gut microbiome to influence colorectal polyp risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m also developing grant and fellowship proposals to further explore how diet might influence colorectal cancer survival, an area that remains under-researched but holds great potential for improving patient outcomes. Through this research, I hope to contribute to clearer, evidence-based guidance on how everyday dietary choices can help prevent cancer or improve outcomes after diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Away from my desk<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Outside of research, I still find joy in food \u2014 especially in trying new recipes and sharing meals with friends and family. It\u2019s my creative outlet and a reminder of why I do what I do: because food connects us all, shapes our health, and continues to fascinate me just as much as it did when I first stepped into a kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n References<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n By Dr. Yashvee Dunneram Food has always played a big role in my life. Growing up, I had a close relationship with it \u2014 I enjoyed exploring new flavours, helping in the kitchen, and discovering how small changes in preparation … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/hnerc\/files\/2025\/10\/Food-Yashvee-blog.avif\")
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