Thomas A. Sellers, PhD, MPH
Deputy Director of Population Science, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center
Professor, UNMC Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health
Full member, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center
Research focus: Studies inherited and modifiable factors that influence risk for cancers, cancer prevention and early detection.
Leadership
Dr. Thomas A. Sellers joined the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center in June 2025 as deputy director of Population Science. He brings more than 30 years of academic experience and a record of significant leadership contributions. His positions across NCI-designated cancer centers include program leader, associate director, deputy director, and director at the University of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic, Moffitt Cancer Center, and the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. He has also served on NCI Subcommittee A and on more than 30 cancer center external advisory boards—five of which he chaired. As the founder and president of TAS Consulting, LLC, he worked with both emerging and NCI-designated cancer centers on new and renewal applications and strategic planning.
At the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, he is leading initiatives that integrate population-based research into comprehensive cancer prevention and control strategies. Dr. Sellers is developing a comprehensive vision for population-based cancer research to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration across the cancer center, the University of Nebraska System, and the State of Nebraska. His priorities include expanding transdisciplinary research across scientific programs and building capacity in planning and evaluation to strengthen the cancer center’s impact on cancer prevention, control, and health equity in Nebraska.
Research
As a genetic epidemiologist, Dr. Sellers’ research focus has been on uncovering the causes of common cancers, advancing the understanding of inherited and modifiable risk factors for cancers such as ovarian, breast, prostate, and mammographic breast density, employing the full spectrum of observational study designs. Notably, his research has provided some of the strongest evidence that lung cancer has a genetic component; that prophylactic mastectomy confers 90 percent risk reduction for BRCA mutation carriers; and, through an international consortium, the identification of variants in non-coding regions of the genome that associate with risk of ovarian cancer.
His work has been supported by over $100M in peer-reviewed grants as Principal or Co-Principal Investigator, in addition to serving as co-investigator on over 20 grants. Critical to this success has been an appreciation for the value of transdisciplinary team science. Beyond his research, Dr. Sellers has demonstrated a strong commitment to teaching, mentoring, and sponsorship, while providing scientific leadership through service on professional boards, including the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the Association of American Cancer Institutes, the NCI, and through organization of major scientific symposia.
Trainee Outcomes
Dr. Sellers has trained and mentored numerous emerging scientists throughout his career. The following list highlights a few of them:
- James Cerhan, MD, PhD, Ralph S. and Beverley E. Caulkins Professor of Cancer Research, Enterprise Deputy Director, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Paul Limburg, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Screening, Exact Sciences
- Celine Vachon, PhD, Professor and former Division Chair of Epidemiology, Mayo Clinic
- Jenny Permuth-Wey, PhD, Professor, Vice Chair for Research in GI Malignancies, Moffitt Cancer Center
- Tuya Pal, MD, Professor, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Associate Director, Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center
- Heather Jim, PhD, Professor and Associate Center Director, Population Science, Moffitt Cancer Center
- 1989, Postdoc in Genetic Epidemiology, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, LA
- 1988, PhD in Epidemiology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
- 1984, MPH in Epidemiology, Tulane University, School of Public Health & Trop Med, New Orleans, LA
- 1982, BS in Community Nutrition, University of California, Davis
Research Areas:
Cancer epidemiology, population genetics, statistical genetics, cancer prevention and control, biostatistics.
Collaborations:
Dr. Sellers has led large-scale, multicenter research projects and publications involving over 100 collaborators, exemplifying his leadership in transdisciplinary team science.
Current h-index is 115, with over 52,700 lifetime citations. ORCID: 0000-0002-5885-4493
- Integrative multi-omics analyses to identify the genetic and functional mechanisms underlying ovarian cancer risk regions. Am J Hum Genet 2024;111(6):1061-1083. PMID: 38723632. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38723632/
- Polygenic risk modelling for epithelial ovarian cancer risk prediction. Eur J Hum Genet 2022;30(3):349-362. PMID: 35027648. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35027648/
- GWAS meta-analysis and replication identifies three new susceptibility loci for ovarian cancer. Nat Genet 2013;45(4):362-70, 370e1-2. PMID: 23535730. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23535730/
- Benign breast disease and the risk of breast cancer. N Engl J Med 2005;353:229-37. PMID: 16034008.
- Increased risk of breast cancer associated with oral contraceptive use in women with a strong family history of breast cancer. JAMA 2000;284:1791-8. PMID: 11025831. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11025831/
- Effect of family history, body fat distribution and reproductive factors on the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. N Engl J Med 1992;326:1323-9. PMID: 1565145. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1565145/
- Evidence for Mendelian inheritance in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1990;82:1272-9. PMID: 2374177. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2374177/
Academic, Scientific and Professional Appointments:
- 2025 to present: Deputy Director of Population Science, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center
- Professor, UNMC Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health
- 2023 to 2025: Chief Research Officer and Director, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute
- 2013 to 2020: Chair, Cancer Prevention Committee, Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas
- 2012 to 2019: Director, Moffitt Comprehensive Cancer Center
- 2008 to 2013: Member, Board of Scientific Counselors, National Cancer Institute
- 2003 to 2019: Professor and Executive Vice President, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
- 1999 to 2003: Member, National Cancer Institute Subcommittee A – Cancer Centers
- 1998 to 2003: Program Leader, Associate Director of Population Science, Deputy Director, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
- 1994 to 1998: Program Leader, Associate Director of Population Science, University of Minnesota Cancer Center
- 1998 to 2003, Professor, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine
- 1989 to 1998, Assistant/Associate Professor with tenure, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Honors:
- 2019: Fellow, National Academy of Inventors
- 2017: Moffitt Distinguished Scholar
- 2014: Elected, Board of Directors, Association of American Cancer Institutes
- 2013: The Ohio State University Human Cancer Genetics Program Commemorative Medal
- 2011: Elected, Board of Directors, American Association for Cancer Research
- 2000: American Epidemiological Society
- 1999: Elected, Board of Directors, International Genetic Epidemiology Society
- 1988: Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society
- 1984: Delta Omega Honorary Society of Public Health, Eta Chapter
Patents:
- Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (Bi-Rads) Tissue Composition. Patent number US10,846,856. November 2020.
- Method of Assessing Breast Density for Breast Cancer Risk Applications. Patent number US 10,134,148 B2. November 2018.
- Automated Percentage of Breast Density Measurements for Full-Field Digital Mammography. Patent number: US 10,007,982. June 2018.
- Method for Assessing Breast Density. Patent number: US 9,304,973 B2. February 2017.
- Luminescence Characterization of Quantum Dots Conjugated with Biomarkers for Early Cancer Detection. Patent number: US 7,655,479. February 2010.
Memberships in Professional Societies
- 1990 to present: American Association for Cancer Research
- 1991 to 2019: International Genetic Epidemiology Society
- 1997 to 2011, 2025 to present: American Society of Preventive Oncology
- 1984 to 2003: Society for Epidemiologic Research
- 1983 to 2003: American Public Health Association
- 1988 to 2001: American Society for Human Genetics