Education

1978–1984      BM, ChB (Honors), Medicine and Surgery – University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

2000–2004      ScD, Nutrition Epidemiology (major) and Biostatistics (minor) – Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA

2025–present (in progress) MBA – Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Postgraduate Education and Training

1987–1993      Residency in Surgery (Oncology) – University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

1994    Renal Transplantation Surgery – Apollo Hospital, Chennai, India

Certification

1993    Fellow, West African College of Surgeons (FWACS)

I am the Director of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and a tenured Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). At the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC), I am Associate Director for Population Science and Senior Advisor in the Office of Workforce Excellence and Development. I also lead the Epidemiology Pillar of the UMGCCC–AstraZeneca Partnership. I trained as a surgical oncologist and was Professor of Surgery at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, before joining UMSOM in 2009.

My research focuses on the epidemiological and genomic risk factors, biomarker discovery, early detection, and prevention of cancers, particularly breast and cervical cancers, and, more recently, lung cancer. I am the Contact PI of the Baltimore CASCADE Study Site (BaCSS), the Baltimore clinical site of the NCI HIV/Cervical Cancer Prevention CASCADE Clinical Trials Network (https://prevention.cancer.gov/major-programs/hivcervical-cancer-prevention-cascade-clinical-trials-network), a global partnership focused on optimizing the cervical cancer screening, management, and precancer treatment cascade for women living with HIV. Our current work includes circular RNA and microRNA signatures for early detection of cervical precancer and cancer, a point-of-care lateral-flow platform for molecular subtyping of breast cancer in low-resource settings, and population informatics models of lung cancer screening eligibility in Maryland.

I direct the African Collaborative Center for Microbiome and Genomics Research (ACCME), established with NIH funding as part of the NIH/Wellcome Trust Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) initiative. ACCME's projects include analyses of the genomic and epidemiologic risk factors for persistent high-risk HPV infection, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and uterine fibroids in a cohort of about 12,000 women followed every six months. This integrative epidemiology research generates host germline (GWAS and whole-genome sequencing), somatic, viral genomic, epigenomic, microbiome, proteomic, and metabolomic data, and contributes to the NHGRI Polygenic Risk Methods in Diverse Populations (PRIMED) Consortium.

I am PI of several NIH-funded training programs in research ethics, responsible conduct of research, and research methodology, through which I developed short-, medium-, and long-duration multidisciplinary graduate programs, including master's degree programs in Research Ethics and in Responsible Conduct of Research in Nigeria. My work in research ethics was recognized by Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) with the Jeff Cohen Public Service Award in 2022 (https://primr.org/award-winners/clement-adebamowo/). My research in this area addresses the ethical governance of data science and artificial intelligence in health research, research ethics in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD), research with induced pluripotent stem cells derived from biobanked samples, and the responsible use of population descriptors in genomics. I chaired the Nigerian National Health Research Ethics Committee from 2005 to 2017.

I also lead capacity-building programs in non-communicable disease (NCD) research. These include the Fogarty-funded Strengthening Surgical Scientists Capacity for NCD-Lifespan Research (SSSCAR) Program for surgeons in West Africa, and earlier programs that produced a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire and Food Picture Book for African foods and a Food Composition Database for converting dietary intake into nutrients. In Baltimore, I am Contact MPI of the NCI-funded CATALYST program, which introduces middle school students and teachers from West Baltimore communities to cancer research and STEM careers.

In the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, I direct the graduate course in Cancer Epidemiology (PREV 701), which I started in fall 2010. The course is open to students across the University System of Maryland and draws lecturers from the National Cancer Institute and neighboring institutions. I also direct the graduate course in Non-Communicable Diseases Epidemiology (MHS 631).

Cancer epidemiology; Genomic epidemiology; Molecular epidemiology; Nutrition epidemiology; Cervical cancer; HPV; Breast cancer; Lung cancer screening; Cancer biomarkers; Polygenic risk; Global oncology; NCD research; Research ethics; Ethics of data science and AI in health research

Selected books and book chapters:

Adebamowo C. Cervical cancer. Population-based prevention: tools to achieve elimination. In: Delaloge S, Rossi PG, Batista MV, editors. ESMO Handbook of Cancer Prevention. 2nd ed. Lugano, Switzerland: ESMO Press; 2026. p. 96–101.

Gao W, Hussain I, Adebamowo S, Erickson D, Adebamowo C. Point-of-care technologies for molecular subtyping of breast cancer in low- and middle-income countries. In: Ossandon M, Prickril B, Rasooly A, editors. Cancer Detection and Diagnosis. 1st ed. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor and Francis; 2026. p. 387–396.

Akintola A, Odutola M, Olayinka T, Akinjiola A, Nwokwu U, Adebamowo C, editors. Cancer in Nigeria 2009–2016. 2nd ed. Abuja, Nigeria: Nigerian National System of Cancer Registries; 2021. ISBN 978-978-979-993-0. 

Boyle P, Autier P, Adebamowo C, Anderson BO, Badwe RA, Ashton LP, Yamaguchi N, editors. World Breast Cancer Report 2012. Lyon, France: International Prevention Research Institute; 2013.

Selected peer-reviewed articles:

Adebamowo C, Adebamowo SN, Akintola A, Ikhane P, Akintola S, Ogundiran T, Jegede A, Adeyemo O, Callier S, Imam-Tamim MK, Uthman I; BridgELSI Project as part of the DS-I Africa Consortium. Representational veracity in data science health research: targets, proxies, labels, and descriptors. J Med Internet Res. 2026;28:e102537. doi: 10.2196/102537.

Adebamowo CA. Whose responsibility? Research ethics, integrity, and governance in networked science. Hastings Cent Rep. 2026;(4):43–46. doi: 10.1002/hast.70078.

Adebamowo CA, Canfell K, Adebamowo SN, Soerjomataram I. Global cancer prevention: current approaches and future directions. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2026;46(3):e519768. doi: 10.1200/EDBK-26-519768.

Akintola A, Dareng EO, Adebamowo SN; ACCME Research Group as part of the H3Africa Consortium; Adebamowo CA. Impact of educational intervention on the uptake of self-sampling for HPV test-based cervical cancer screening. Front Oncol. 2026;16:1810950. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2026.1810950.

Gao W, Hussain I, Nikolaou TA, Symons S, Dripaul G, Almeida M, Guo Y, Adebamowo S, Adebamowo C, Erickson D. Integrated triplex LFIA platform for decentralized molecular subtyping of breast cancer. RSC Adv. 2026;16(26):23884–23894. doi: 10.1039/d6ra02096h.

Onyenobi E, Zhong M, Peitz J, Chawla K, Plotkin A, Adebamowo C, Adebamowo SN. Identification of miRNA biomarkers and development of predictive signatures for early detection and prognosis in cervical precancer and cancer. Hum Genomics. 2026;20(1):60. doi: 10.1186/s40246-026-00924-z.

Smith JL, Adebamowo CA, Adebamowo SN, et al. Recommendations for responsible use of population descriptors in polygenic risk score development. Nat Genet. 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41588-025-02395-9.

Ikhane PA, Yusuf T, Adeyemo O, Ogundiran TO, Adebamowo SN, Adebamowo CA. Community and bioethicists' perspectives on iPSC research with biobanked samples collected using broad consent. Stem Cell Reports. 2025:102721. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2025.102721.

Adebamowo C, Rossi PG, Castle PE. Challenges and opportunities for global cervical cancer elimination: how can we build a model for other cancers? Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2025;45(3):e473702. doi: 10.1200/EDBK-25-473702.

Adebamowo C, Callier S, Maduka OC, Akintola S, Kukucka J, Arima CG, Ogundiran TO, Jegede A, Akintola A, Adeyemo O, Adebamowo SN. Ethical oversight of data science health research in Africa. NEJM AI. 2024;1(6):AIpc2400033. doi: 10.1056/AIpc2400033.

Adebamowo SN, Adeyemo A, Adebayo A, Achara P, Alabi B, Bakare RA, Famooto AO, Obende K, Offiong R, Olaniyan O, Ologun S, Rotimi C; ACCME Research Group as part of the H3Africa Consortium; Adebamowo CA. Genome, HLA and polygenic risk score analyses for prevalent and persistent cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Eur J Hum Genet. 2024;32(6):708–716. doi: 10.1038/s41431-023-01521-7. PMID: 38200081; PMCID: PMC11153215.

Bigman G, Adebamowo SN; Nutrition Epidemiology Research of Nigeria (NERON) Group; Adebamowo CA. Validity and reproducibility of a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and food picture book in Nigeria. Curr Dev Nutr. 2024;8(4):102135. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102135. PMID: 38618557; PMCID: PMC11015507.

Adebamowo CA., Callier S, Akintola S, Maduka O, Jegede A, Arima C, Ogundiran T, Adebamowo SN; BridgELSI Project as part of the DS-I Africa Consortium. The promise of data science for health research in Africa. Nat Commun. 2023;14(1):6084. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-41809-2. PMID: 37770478.

Adebamowo CA., ACCME Research Group as part of the H3Africa Consortium, Adebamowo SN. Population-based study of the reproductive risk factors for transvaginal ultrasound diagnosed uterine fibroids in Nigerian women. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):18926. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-44703-5. PMID: 37919335; PMCID: PMC10622570.

Jedy-Agba E, McCormack V, Olaomi O, Badejo W, Yilkudi M, Yawe T, Ezeome E, Salu I, Miner E, Anosike I, Adebamowo SN, Achusi B, Dos-Santos-Silva I, Adebamowo C. Determinants of stage at diagnosis of breast cancer in Nigerian women: sociodemographic, breast cancer awareness, health care access and clinical factors. Cancer Causes Control. 2017;28(7):685–697. doi: 10.1007/s10552-017-0894-y.

Dareng EO, Ma B, Famooto AO, Akarolo-Anthony SN, Offiong RA, Olaniyan O, Dakum PS, Wheeler CM, Fadrosh D, Yang H, Gajer P, Brotman RM, Ravel J, Adebamowo CA. Prevalent high-risk HPV infection and vaginal microbiota in Nigerian women. Epidemiol Infect. 2016;144(1):123–137. PMID: 26062721.

Jedy-Agba EE, Oga EA, Odutola M, Abdullahi YM, Popoola A, Achara P, Afolayan E, Banjo AA, Ekanem IO, Erinomo O, Ezeome E, Igbinoba F, Obiorah C, Ogunbiyi O, Omonisi A, Osime C, Ukah C, Osinubi P, Hassan R, Blattner W, Dakum P, Adebamowo CA. Developing national cancer registration in developing countries: case study of the Nigerian National System of Cancer Registries. Front Public Health. 2015;3:186. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2015.00186. PMID: 26284233; PMCID: PMC4519655.

See a complete list of Dr. Adebamowo's publications on PubMed

Dr. Adebamowo has authored more than 375 peer-reviewed articles, 7 books, and 16 book chapters.

Cancer epidemiology; Genomic and molecular epidemiology; Biomarkers for early detection of cervical and breast cancers; Cervical cancer prevention in women living with HIV; Lung cancer screening and population informatics; Nutrition epidemiology; NCD research; Research ethics and the ethical governance of data science and AI in health research; Training and capacity development

Mamadou Gueye Award, West African College of Surgeons (2024)

Jeff Cohen Public Service Award, Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) (2022)

Service Excellence Award, Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health (2022)

Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO) (2018)

Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) (2001)

Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Keystone Symposia

Member, Fogarty International Center Advisory Board

Member, Independent Review Panel for Vivli and CSDR

Member, Maryland Cancer Registry Advisory Committee

Member, Maryland Cancer Collaborative

Associate Editor, Frontiers in Oncology; Academic Editor, PLOS ONE; Editorial Board Member, Scientific Reports

Former Chairman, Nigerian National Health Research Ethics Committee (2005–2017)

Former Co-Chair, Steering Committee, Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Consortium (2016–2018)

Former Chair, International Affairs Committee, American Society of Clinical Oncology (2010–2011)

Former member, Ethics Advisory Board, Illumina Corporation

Strengthening Surgical Scientists Capacity for NCD-Lifespan Research (SSSCAR) Program. FIC D43 TW013007 (PI)

Baltimore CASCADE Study Site (BaCSS Project). NCI UG1 CA284883 (Contact MPI)

Catalyzing Cancer Research among Urban Underrepresented Minority Youths and Teachers (CATALYST). NCI R25 CA274166 (Contact MPI)

Scaling Up Research Ethics and Research Integrity (SURER) Project. FIC R25 TW012213 (Contact MPI)

Polygenic Risk Score (PRS) Methods and Analysis for Populations of Diverse Ancestry – Study Sites. NHGRI U01 HG011717 (Co-Investigator)

Supporting Informed Parental Decisions on HPV Vaccination through Safe and Personalized AI-Driven Conversations. NCI R01 CA297324 (Co-Investigator)

Human Genetic Determinants of HBV Recovery. NIAID R01 AI148049 (Co-Investigator)

University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center Support Grant. NCI P30 CA134274 (Associate Director, Population Science)

https://h3accme.com

https://bioethicscenter.net

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6571-2880