Nicole B. Halmai, PhD, BS
Navajo/Diné
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Position(s):
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Genome Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the University of California, Davis
Dr. Nicole Halmai (Navajo/Diné) is a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Dr. Luis Carvajal-Carmona at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). She received her PhD in Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology from UC Davis in 2019. Dr. Halmai works at the intersection of cancer genomics and community-based participatory research. Her current research focuses on the generation of pre-clinical cancer models and cancer molecular data from underserved racial/ethnic minority populations to advance health equity. Dr. Halmai is particularly focused on the collection and application of cancer health data in partnership with California Tribal communities to support cancer research efforts that are driven by Native health priorities, uphold Tribal sovereignty, and promote Tribal healthcare capacity building.
Project(s):
Advancing Indigenous Cancer Health Equity through a Community Centered Framework (K99/R00, PI:Halmai, collaboration with Dr. Stephanie Carroll, co-mentor): This proposal centers Native communities living within the UCD Comprehensive Cancer Center catchment area in a community-based participatory research framework to develop guidelines for appropriate Native community engagement for biomedical research while assessing community-level biological and social determinants of cancer health and care access. Engagement guidelines and identified drivers of cancer disparities will be used to develop research projects in collaboration with participating Tribal communities to improve cancer health for community members.
Email: nbcoggins@ucdavis.edu