The Research Team
Studying the many aspects of familial/hereditary cancer disorders requires the knowledge and expertise of many different disciplines. Therefore, each of our studies is staffed by a team of expert investigators, each of whom brings their own special perspective to the project. The CGB’s LFS Study Team consists of the following investigators:
Sharon A. Savage, MD, FAAP
Dr. Savage is the Principal Investigator in charge of the Li-Fraumeni Syndrome Study. She is board-certified in both pediatrics and pediatric hematology/oncology, and has extensive training in laboratory-based research related to how cancers develop. Dr. Savage has a special interest in the hereditary cancer disorders which affect children and teenagers. She is particularly well known for her research related to a rare childhood cancer susceptibility disorder called dyskeratosis congenita, and has recently discovered a new gene that causes this specific syndrome. She has overall responsibility for the conduct of this study, and will be focusing particularly on molecular and genetic aspects of LFS.
Phuong L. Mai, MD, MS
Dr. Mai is the Staff Clinician on the Li-Fraumeni Syndrome Study, with board certification in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. She has a master’s degree in Clinical Research and additional specialty training in clinical cancer genetics. She has a special interest in cancer predisposition syndromes that affect adults. Her current research has focused on hereditary breast/ovarian cancer and familial testicular cancer. Dr. Mai will serve as the Lead Investigator responsible for the clinical aspects of the LFS project.
June A. Peters, MS
Ms. Peters is Senior Staff on the study. She has specialty training in both genetic counseling and marriage/family therapy. Ms. Peters was one of the earliest practitioners of cancer-focused genetic counseling in the United States. She is well-known both nationally and internationally for her expertise and creativity in the genetic counseling arena, and has a special interest in the care of persons from cancer-prone families. Ms. Peters will serve as the Senior Genetic Counselor for the LFS Study.
Ingrid M. Wentzensen, MD
Dr. Wentzensen is an experienced clinician who has nearly completed her formal training in General Surgery. She has prior clinical and research experience related to hereditary colon cancer syndromes, and currently holds a position as a Post-Doctoral Cancer Genetics Fellow. Her current research is focused on studies exploring the role of telomere biology in the risk of developing cancer. She is actively involved in the development and implementation of the LFS Study, both scientifically and clinically.
Janet Bracci, RN, BSN
Ms. Bracci is a bachelor’s degree-prepared registered nurse, with experience in nursing-related administrative, consulting, educator and practitioner roles. She is an experienced oncology and bone marrow transplant nurse, whose current research responsibilities are focused on the Clinical Genetics Branch’s Familial Testicular Cancer study. Ms. Bracci will serve as the lead Research Nurse on the LFS study.
Ann G. Carr, MS
Ms. Carr is a master’s degree-prepared genetic counselor with nearly 30 years’ experience in various aspects of genetic risk assessment and genetic counseling. She provides genetic counseling services to various NCI family studies projects. Her current research focus includes families with inherited bone marrow failure disorders, hereditary breast/ovarian cancer and familial testicular cancer. Ms. Carr will provide genetic risk assessment and counseling services to LFS study participants.
Stephanie Steinbart, RN, MPH
Ms. Steinbart is a research nurse with 31 years of combined experience in cancer genetics, public health, program management, patient care, and teaching. She serves as NCI’s Family Studies Referral Nurse, and is often the first person that potential study participants encounter as they explore whether they are interested in participating in our studies. She can be reached either by phone (1-800-518-8474) or email (stephaniesteinbart@westat.com). Persons interested in learning more about the LFS study and determining whether they might be eligible to participate are encouraged to contact Stephanie directly.
Mark H. Greene, MD, FACP, FACE
Dr. Greene is board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology, with more than 30 years of research experience in clinical cancer genetics and epidemiology. He is best known for his identification of the hereditary melanoma/dysplastic nevus syndrome. He was involved in the evaluation and management of the original LFS families that were being studied by Drs. Li and Fraumeni. Dr. Greene’s current research interests include familial testicular cancer and hereditary breast/ovarian cancer. He is the PI and national study chair of the National Ovarian Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Trial. Dr. Greene is Chief of the Clinical Genetics Branch, and will be involved in study design and the clinical evaluation of LFS families.
Joseph F. Fraumeni, Jr., MD, MSc
Dr. Fraumeni is board-certified in internal medicine, with additional training in medical oncology and epidemiology. Since 1979, he has been the Director of NCI’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (and its predecessors). In recognition of his research into the environmental and genetic determinants of cancer, Dr. Fraumeni has received numerous awards. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, and the Association of American Physicians. He has authored more than 800 scientific publications dealing with cancer epidemiology and genetics, and has a career-long interest in hereditary cancer susceptibility syndromes, including the discovery (in collaboration with Dr. Frederick P.Li) of a multiple cancer syndrome in young people (now known as the Li-Fraumeni syndrome). Dr. Fraumeni will serve as a Senior Consultant and Advisor for the LFS Study.
