Freitas-Lemos Lab

By modifying risk factors, roughly four in 10 cancers could be prevented. Tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use, as well as diet, significantly contribute to cancer incidence and mortality. Regulatory policies that address these health behaviors through large-scale interventions and public-health initiatives are designed to minimize their impact. Yet these risk factors impact socioeconomic groups differently, leading to significant cancer-related health disparities.

The Freitas-Lemos Lab, led by Roberta Freitas-Lemos, Ph.D., seeks to prevent and control cancer while advancing health equity, particularly as it relates to health behaviors. The lab’s research applies innovative strategies and behavioral economics — including experimental marketplaces — to provide valuable insight into how regulatory interventions influence purchase and use and can affect health outcomes.

The program is guided by two main objectives:

• Examining the impact of interventions on tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and ultra-processed food consumption in underserved populations.
• Developing and testing novel policies and treatment strategies aimed at reducing harms and promoting public health.