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David “David S. Lopez” Lopez, DrPH, M.P.H., M.S.

David “David S. Lopez” Lopez, DrPH, M.P.H., M.S.

Titles and Appointments

Associate Professor

Schools
School of Public Health
Departments
Public Health | Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Biography

    Download Curriculum Vitae

    My research program is at the intersection of cancer epidemiology, pharmacoepidemiology, causal inference, and advanced epidemiologic methods, with a particular focus on underserved and understudied populations. I apply rigorous methodological approaches, including target trial emulation, to investigate the etiology and progression of obesity-related cancers and chronic diseases among cancer survivors. My research focuses on the impact of obesity, and its treatments, including anti-obesity medications (e.g., glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist- GLP-1 RA), repurposed medications (e.g., metformin, statins and testosterone replacement therapy), and bariatric surgery on cancer risk, progression and survivorship outcomes. I have led studies leveraging large-scale real-world data sources, including SEER-Medicare, electronic health records, and claims databases, to advance understanding of obesity-, hormonal-, and cardiometabolic-related cancer outcomes. I have established a highly productive collaborative research program that has generated multiple high-impact publications and novel evidence on GLP-1 receptor agonists, bariatric surgery, and obesity-related cancers.

     

  • Education
    Graduate School
    (2007)
  • Research Interest
    • Cancer Epidemiology, Epidemiologic Methods, Pharmacoepidemiology, Target Trial Emulation, Causal Inference
  • Publications

    Star Featured Publications

    Featured
    Comparative risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and mortality among initiators of GLP-1 receptor agonists versus other glucose-lowering therapies: a target trial emulation.
    Hernández-Pérez JG, Abdelgadir O, Jang S, Ernest DK, Zhang X, Shah D, Hong AS, Almandoz JP, Cowell LG, Messiah SE, Lopez DS, Hepatol Int 2026 Aug
    Featured
    GLP-1 RAs and Kidney Cancer Risk: Methodological Considerations in Active-Comparator Selection
    Lopez DS Diabetes Obes Metab . 2026 26 5389-5393
    Featured
    GLP-1 RA initiation versus metformin and risk of cardiomyopathy in patients with cancer and diabetes treated with chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy: a target trial emulation
    Lopez DS Diabetes Res Clin Pract . 2026 233 113119
    Featured
    Effects of Metformin on Cancer Survival Among Men Diagnosed with Advanced Prostate Cancer Treated with Androgen-Deprivation Therapy: Emulating a Target Trial
    Lopez DS Cancers (Basel). 2026 17(21) 3579
    Featured
    Cardiovascular Disease and Obesity Medications in Older Women by Obesity-Related Cancers Status: SEER-Medicare 2007-2015.
    Lopez DS Obesity (Silver Spring) 2026 34(6) 1343-1353
    Featured
    GLP-1 receptor agonists are associated with lower kidney cancer risk after metabolic bariatric surgery
    Lopez DS. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2026 gfag197
    Featured
    Racial/ethnic disparities in the association of environmental exposure to phthalates and bisphenols mixtures with diabetes mellitus: NHANES 2013-2016.
    Hernández-Pérez JG, Valenzuela-Sánchez A, López DS, Torres-Sánchez L, Arch Environ Occup Health 2025 Mar 1-13
    Featured
    Incidence of prostate, colorectal and male breast cancers in relation with statins and testosterone replacement therapy: SEER-Medicare 2007-2015.
    Abdelgadir O, Hussain MR, Polychronopoulou E, Tsilidis KK, Alzweri L, Villasante-Tezanos A, Baillargeon J, Canfield S, Kuo YF, Lopez DS, Cancer Epidemiol 2024 Oct 92 102633
    Featured
    Association of electronic-cigarette, number of cigarettes, and marijuana use with high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) among men and women: A cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample.
    David SV, Villasante-Tezanos A, Bustamante G, Agana-Norman DFG, Amith M, Martinez J, Cano MÁ, Torres-Sánchez LE, Rodriguez AM, Lopez DS, Ann Epidemiol 2024 Sep 97 52-61
    Featured
    Association of serum testosterone with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a nationally representative sample of White, Black, and Hispanic men.
    David SV, Gibson D, Villasante-Tezanos A, Alzweri L, Hernández-Pérez JG, Torres-Sánchez LE, Baillargeon J, Lopez DS, Hormones (Athens) 2024 Mar 23 1 153-162