Scientist Profiles

Thu Quach, Ph.D., M.P.H. Research Scientist, Northern California Cancer Center Associate Member, Population Sciences, Stanford Cancer Center

2001 Center Street, Suite 700
Berkeley, California 94704
E-mail: tquach@nccc.org
Phone: 510-608-5190
Fax: 510-666-0693

Research Interests:

• Environmental and occupational risk factors for cancer
• Health disparities in immigrant populations
• Community-based participatory research
• Cancer control

Dr. Quach’s primary research interest has focused on immigrant populations to examine environmental, occupational and socio-cultural factors which may influence their health. She has a strong commitment to community-based participatory research, and has worked with different advocacy, environmental and community-based organizations to leverage public health goals that promote the health and well-being of under-served populations. 

In collaboration with Asian Health Services, a community health center serving the Asian indigent populations in Alameda County, she along with Dr. Peggy Reynolds, has examined cancer incidence in the booming nail salon workforce, comprised largely of Vietnamese immigrant women. Their community-research team has also conducted preliminary exposure assessment in nail salon shops using air monitors. 

Along with other NCCC colleagues, Dr. Quach is leading a community-based participatory research project of community mapping of environmental hazards (e.g., traffic density, superfund sites and barriers to health care) in ethnic enclaves with a large density of Vietnamese Americans to examine whether these areas have disproportionate environmental hazards relative to other communities. The mapping of such environmental hazards and socio-cultural barriers to health can inform research efforts examining how contextual-level factors can influence cancer incidence and other health outcomes.

Dr. Quach is also working closely with Dr. Bang Nguyen on an intervention study to increase colorectal cancer screening in Vietnamese Americans. This study uses an evidence-based lay health worker strategy that promotes community awareness and community capacity-building to address cancer screening disparities in a poor and medically-underserved immigrant population.

Selected Research Projects

Selected Research Publications

Gomez SL, Quach T, Horn-Ross PL, Pham JT, Cockburn M, Chang ET, Keegan THM, Clarke CA. Hidden disparities: breast cancer occurrence among Asian women by immigrant status. AJPH (in press).

Quach T, Nguyen KD, Doan-Billing PA, Okahara L, Fan C, Reynolds P. A Preliminary Survey of Vietnamese Nail Salon Workers in Alameda County, California. J of Comm Health, 2008 Oct; 33(5):336-43.

Reynolds P, Hurley SE, Gunier RB, Yerabati S, Quach T, Hertz A. Residential Proximity to Agricultural Pesticide Use and Incidence of Breast Cancer in California, 1988-1997. Env Health Perspectives, 2005 Aug; 113 (8): 1-9.

Reynolds P, Hurley S, Quach T, Rosen H, Von Behren J, Hertz A, Smith D. Regional variations in breast cancer incidence among California women,1988–1997. Cancer Causes and Control. 2005 Mar; 16(2):139-50.

Shaw G, Quach T, Nelson V, Carmichael S, Schaffer D, Selvin S, Yang W. Neural tube defects associated with maternal periconceptional dietary intake of simple sugars and glycemic index. Am J Clin Nutr 2003; 78: 972-978.

Shaw G, Ranatunga D, Quach T, Neri E, Correa A, Neutra R. Trihalomethane Exposures from Municipal Water Supplies and Risks of Selected Congenital Malformations in California. Epidemiology, 2003 Mar; 14 (2): 191-199.