Departmental Affiliations
Brittany Jenkins-Lord, PhD, MPH ’20, MS, is a molecular cancer biologist investigating connections between socio-environmental factors, tumor biology, and treatment resistance in diverse populations.
Research Interests
breast cancer; tumor biology; cancer disparities, treatment resistance, genetic ancestry, epigenetics, risk factors
Additional Links
Experiences & Accomplishments
The Jenkins-Lord Laboratory investigates how social and environmental risk factors contribute to breast cancer etiology and tumor biology, with a focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying aggressive subtypes. Their research explores therapeutic strategies to overcome treatment resistance in both ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancers and examines how social determinants of health influence cancer biology and survivorship. By integrating genetic, epigenetic, and socio-environmental data, the lab aims to uncover drivers of cancer development and progression to ultimately improve outcomes for all patients.
Honors & Awards
BIRCWH Scholar, Johns Hopkins BIRCWH program
Maryland Cancer Moonshot Scholar, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Director's Award of Merit - Leading Diversity, National Cancer Institute
Director's Award of Merit - Champion Award for Outstanding Mentor, National Cancer Institute
NextGen Star, American Association for Cancer Research
Woman Scientist Advisor's Scholars Award, National Institutes of Health
Gilliam Fellowship for Advanced Study, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Select Publications
Jenkins BD, Rossi E, Pichardo C, Wooten W, Pichardo M, Tang W, Dorsey T, Ajao A, Hutchison R, Moubadder L, McCullough L, Bailey-Whyte M, Ambs S. Neighborhood deprivation and DNA methylation and expression of cancer genes in breast tumors. JAMA Network Open. 2023. DOI:
Harris AR, Hughes JD, Lawrence WR, Lenz P, Franklin J, Bhawsar PM, Dorsey TH, Rossi E, Pichardo CM, Pichardo MS, White AJ, Ramin C, Duggan MA, Abubakar M, Rozeboom AM, Almeida JS, Gierach GL, Ambs S, Jenkins BD. Socioenvironmental factors and DNA methylation with crown-like structures of the breast in Black and White women. JAMA Network Open. 2025. DOI:
Lord BD, Harris AR, Ambs S. Influence of the built and social environment on cancer biology in Black Americans. Cancer Causes and Control 2022. PMID: 36562901. DOI:
Davis Lynn BC, Lord BD, Cora R, Pfeiffer RM, Lawrence S, Zirpoli G, Bethea TN, Palmer JR, Gierach GL. Associations between quantitative measures of TDLU involution and breast tumor molecular subtypes among breast cancer cases in the Black Women’s Health Study: a case-case analysis. Breast Cancer Research 2022; 24:86. PMID: 36471360. DOI: .
Martini RN, Dorsaint P, Chu TR, Arora K, Lord BD, Verma A, Chen Y, Gebregzabher E, Oppong JK, Adjei EK, Jibril A, Awuah B, Bekele M, Abebe E, Kyei I, Aitpillah FS, Adinku MO, Ankomah K, Osei-Bonsu EB, Chitale D, Bensenhaver JM, Nathansan SD, Jackson L, Jiagge E, Petersen LF, Proctor, Gyan KK, Gibbs L, Monojlovic Z, Kittles R, White J, Yates C, Manne U, Gardner K, Mongan N, Cheng E, Ginter P, Hoda S, Elemento O, Robine N, Sboner A, Carpten J, Newman L, Davis MB. African-Ancestry Associated Gene Expression Signatures and Pathways in Triple Negative Breast Cancer, a Comparison Across Women of African Descent. Cancer Discovery 2022 (11):2530-2551. PMID: 36121736. DOI: .
Selected publications