A. Cecile J.W. Janssens
Research Professor
Faculty, Epidemiology

My research concerns the translation of genomics to applications in clinical and public health practice, with a focus on the genetic prediction of multifactorial diseases (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma). My research focuses on theoretical and methodological questions in prediction and the assessment of the clinical validity and utility of predictive testing. This includes (1) methodological studies on test performance measures; (2) simulation studies investigating the theoretical and potential predictive ability of polygenic risk models; and (3) empirical studies on the performance of polygenic risk models, mostly in cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
I have a strong interest in research methodology, statistics, research integrity and research ethics. I have written many invited commentaries about the appropriate use and interpretation of research methods and statistics. In recent years, I developed CoCites, a fundamentally new method for searching scientific literature. This method uses citations instead of keywords to find articles on the same specific topic. The method is ideal for literature reviews and meta-analyses, but also for quick searches to find the best-known studies on a niche topic.
At the Rollins School of Public Health, I teach Critical Thinking, Grant Writing, and Scientific Writing, and I moderate the capstone projects and the journal club for our PhD students. At Emory College, I teach Critiquing Health News.
Contact Information
1518 Clifton Road, CNR 4041 ,
Atlanta , GA 30322
Mailstop:1518-002-3BB
Phone: 404-727-6307
Fax: 404-727-8737
Email: cecile.janssens@emory.edu
Areas of Interest
- Assessment
- Genetics
- Research Methods
- Risk Assessment
Education
- PhD 2003, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- MSc, Epidemiology 2001, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- MA, Psychology 1996, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
Courses Taught
- EPI 553: Wrtg & Pres. EPI Research
- EPI 730: Epidemiology Grant Writing Crs
- EPI 598C: Capstone
- EPI 790R: Doctoral Seminar-EPI Practice
Publications
- ACJW Janssens, ML Gwinn, JE Brockman, K Powell, M Goodman, 2020, Novel citation-based search method for scientific literature: a validation study, BMC Med Res Methodol, 20,
- ACJW Janssens, M Gwinn, 2015, Novel citation-based search method for scientific literature: application to meta-analyses, BMC Med Res Methodol, 15, 84
- ACJW Janssens, 2014, Raw personal data: access to inaccuracy, Science, 343, 968
- R Kalf, R Mihaescu, S Kundu, P de Knijff, RC Green, ACJW Janssens, 2014, Variations in predicted risks in personal genome testing for common complex diseases, Genet Med, 16, 85-91
- ACJW Janssens, P Kraft, 2012, Research Conducted Using Data Obtained through Online Communities: Ethical Implications of Methodological Limitations, PLoS Med, 9, e1001328
- ACJW Janssens, JPA Ioannidis, CM van Duijn, J Little, MJ Khoury. , 2011, Strengthening the reporting of genetic risk prediction studies: the GRIPS statement., This paper was simultaneously published in ten journals (PLoS Med, Ann Intern Med, BMJ, Genome Med, Genet Med, Eur J Clin Invest, Eur J Epidemiol, Eur J Hum Genet, J Clin Epidemiol, Circ: Cardiovasc Genet), ,