Christian S. Alvarez, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Staff Scientist
Division of Intramural Research (DIR)
christian.alvarez@nih.gov
301-402-9033
Dr. Christian Alvarez is a staff scientist in NIMHD’s Division of Intramural Research (DIR). He supports scientific research, training, and mentoring within the Office of the Scientific Director. His research interests include the etiologic understanding, clinical management, and prevention of chronic diseases, particularly within underserved populations.
His previous work has explored the contributions of genetics and environmental factors to liver cancer and other chronic liver diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease among Hispanic or Latino populations. His research employs a multifaceted approach, leveraging disease registries, population-based cohort studies, survey data, and molecular data. Dr. Alvarez was instrumental in designing and implementing the North American Liver Cancer Study and remains a key collaborator in investigating emerging risk factors for the disease.
Dr. Alvarez has a robust publication record and a deep interest in descriptive studies that utilize advanced epidemiological and statistical methods to assess the burden of disease and uncover critical health disparities in the United States and internationally. He is the NIMHD DIR representative for the ongoing U.S. Burden of Health Disparities project.
Dr. Alvarez earned his M.P.H. in epidemiology from Saint Louis University and his Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Before NIMHD, he was a National Cancer Institute postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.
Selected Publications
- Alvarez, C. S., Piazuelo, M. B., Fleitas-Kanonnikoff, T., Ruhl, J., Pérez-Fidalgo, J. A., & Camargo, M. C. (2024). Incidence and Survival Outcomes of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors. JAMA network open, 7(8), e2428828. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.28828
- Lazo, M., Xie, J., Alvarez, C. S., Parisi, D., Yang, S., Rivera-Andrade, A., Kroker-Lobos, M. F., Groopman, J. D., Guallar, E., Ramirez-Zea, M., Arking, D. E., & McGlynn, K. A. (2022). Frequency of the PNPLA3 rs738409 polymorphism and other genetic loci for liver disease in a Guatemalan adult population. Liver international, 42(6), 1470–1474. https://doi.org/10.1111/liv.15268
- Torres-Roman, J. S., Alvarez, C. S., Guerra-Canchari, P., Valcarcel, B., Martinez-Herrera, J. F., Dávila-Hernández, C. A., Santos, C. A., Soares, S. C. M., de Souza, D. L. B., & Camargo, M. C. (2022). Sex and age differences in mortality trends of gastric cancer among Hispanic/Latino populations in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Lancet regional health Americas, 16, 100376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2022.100376
- Alvarez, C. S., Petrick, J. L., Parisi, D., McMahon, B. J., Graubard, B. I., & McGlynn, K. A. (2022). Racial/ethnic disparities in hepatocellular carcinoma incidence and mortality rates in the United States, 1992-2018. Hepatology, 76(3), 589–598. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.32394
- Alvarez, C. S., Graubard, B. I., Thistle, J. E., Petrick, J. L., & McGlynn, K. A. (2020). Attributable Fractions of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease for Mortality in the United States: Results From the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey With 27 Years of Follow-up. Hepatology, 72(2), 430–440. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.31040
- Alvarez, C. S., Florio, A. A., Butt, J., Rivera-Andrade, A., Kroker-Lobos, M. F., Waterboer, T., Camargo, M. C., Freedman, N. D., Graubard, B. I., Lazo, M., Guallar, E., Groopman, J. D., Ramírez-Zea, M., & McGlynn, K. A. (2020). Associations between Helicobacter pylori with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and other metabolic conditions in Guatemala. Helicobacter, 25(6), e12756. https://doi.org/10.1111/hel.12756
Page updated Oct. 21, 2024 | published Oct. 16, 2024
