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Rong Jiang

Assistant Professor in Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences
Head & Neck Surgical Oncology
40 Duke Medicine Circle, DUMC 3805, Durham, NC 27710

Research Interests


I have a broad background in genetic epidemiology, biostatistics and bioinformatics, and environmental science, with specialized expertise in the study of interactions of genetic and environmental factors.  I have extensive experience in secondary data analysis, using large-scale clinical and genomic and multi-omics data. My research has focused on investigating how genetic variations interaction with lifestyle and behaviors in a variety of complex diseases, including head and neck cancer, hearing loss, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, I have explored the genetic basis for health disparities, examining the underlying genetic, environmental, and social factors contributing to unequal health outcomes. I’ve also studied the biological aging through DNA methylation in age-related diseases. By developing integrative methods that combine sociodemographic, clinical and multi-omics data, my overarching goal is to uncover the underlying biological mechanisms of disease development, ultimately contributing to the prevention and intervention of these conditions.

Selected Grants


HPV, HIV and Oral Microbiota Interplay in Nigerian Youth (HOMINY)

ResearchStatistician · Awarded by University of Pennsylvania · 2024 - 2027

Skeletal Muscle Molecular Drug Targets for Exercise-induced Cardiometabolic Health

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · 2021 - 2026

A nationwide study on Lower Extremity Amputations among adults in Veterans Affairs and in non-Veterans Affairs hospitals

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Institute for Medical Research, Inc. · 2023 - 2024