Overview
Dr. Cooney is Chair of the Duke Department of Medicine.
She is a medical oncologist focused in caring for men with prostate cancer, and is internationally known for her investigations focused on the genetic epidemiology of prostate cancer.
Her research led to the important discovery of a recurrent mutation in the HOXB13 gene that increases the chances of being diagnosed with prostate cancer and is estimated to account for 5 percent of hereditary prostate cancer cases worldwide. Since men with HOXB13 mutations are at an increased risk of prostate cancer, they may benefit from participation in screening and potentially prevention protocols in the future.
Dr. Cooney’s research continues with a focus on identifying germline mutations associated with lethal and aggressive prostate cancer as well as prostate cancer in African American men.
She is a medical oncologist focused in caring for men with prostate cancer, and is internationally known for her investigations focused on the genetic epidemiology of prostate cancer.
Her research led to the important discovery of a recurrent mutation in the HOXB13 gene that increases the chances of being diagnosed with prostate cancer and is estimated to account for 5 percent of hereditary prostate cancer cases worldwide. Since men with HOXB13 mutations are at an increased risk of prostate cancer, they may benefit from participation in screening and potentially prevention protocols in the future.
Dr. Cooney’s research continues with a focus on identifying germline mutations associated with lethal and aggressive prostate cancer as well as prostate cancer in African American men.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor of Medicine
·
2020 - Present
Medicine, Medical Oncology,
Medicine
Professor of Medicine
·
2018 - Present
Medicine, Medical Oncology,
Medicine
Chair, Department of Medicine
·
2018 - Present
Medicine,
Clinical Science Departments
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute
·
2018 - Present
Duke Cancer Institute,
Institutes and Centers
Member of Duke Molecular Physiology Institute
·
2022 - Present
Duke Molecular Physiology Institute,
Institutes and Centers
In the News
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Recent Publications
Using gene and gene-set association tests to identify lethal prostate cancer genes.
Journal Article Prostate cancer and prostatic diseases · August 2024 BackgroundRecent advances in the detection and treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) have reduced morbidity and mortality from this common cancer. Despite these improvements, PCa remains the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United S ... Full text CiteAssociation of rare, recurrent nonsynonymous variants in the germline of prostate cancer patients of African ancestry.
Journal Article Prostate · April 2023 BACKGROUND: Although men of African ancestry (AA) have the highest mortality rate from prostate cancer (PCa), relatively little is known about the germline variants that are associated with PCa risk in AA men. The goal of this study is to systematically ev ... Full text Link to item CiteClinician interest in clinical decision support for PSA-based prostate cancer screening.
Journal Article Urol Oncol · March 2023 OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the interest of primary care clinicians in utilizing CDS for PSA screening. Evidence suggests that electronic clinical decision support (CDS) may decrease low-value prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. However, physician attitude ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Genetic Variation in Cancer Risk and Outcomes in African Americans
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Wayne State University · 2024 - 2029Characterizing the Genetic Landscape of Prostate Cancer in Young African American Men - HDRA
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Department of Defense · 2016 - 2022The Contribution of Rare Variants in Familial Clustering of Prostate and Breast Cancer in African Americans
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Wayne State University · 2018 - 2020View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine ·
1984
M.D.