Dr. Tollefsbol's research is primarily involved with cancer and aging epigenetics, the underlying mechanisms of cancer and aging and novel therapeutic approaches to cancer. This work has also involved translational research on breast and ovarian cancer as well as other cancers. The single most important risk factor for developing cancer is age; therefore, both cancer and aging have been a focus of his research.

Epigenetic processes are heritable changes that do not involve mutations, but rather, modifications of DNA or its associated proteins and Dr. Tollefsbol's laboratory is interested in these processes as controllers of gene expression in cancer and aging in general. We are interested in discovering novel approaches of modifying epigenetic gene expression in cancers and aging and the translational potential of epigenetic-modulating nutritional compounds in inhibiting cancer and impacting aging. The laboratory is using or has plans to use many cutting-edge technological developments in cancer and aging genetics and translational research such as RRBS-seq and ChIP-seq.

Studies on the role of telomerase in cancer and aging have made many lists of the most important future research areas in biological sciences. Dr. Tollefsbol's laboratory is also interested in the epigenetic regulation of the gene that produces telomerase (hTERT) and in unraveling the mysteries of how this gene relates to cancer and aging. Located at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes and synthesized by the enzyme telomerase, telomeres maintain the length of chromosomes. The majority of human cancer cells express high levels of telomerase and inhibition of telomerase activity kills the cancer cells without effect on most normal somatic cells.

Dr. Tollefsbol’s laboratory directs a Cell Senescence Culture Facility that provides various types of aging cells to investigators nationwide. This facility is one of only a few of this type in the United States and is designed to not only facilitate studies of aging, but to also participate in new investigations in the mechanisms of cellular aging and age-related diseases such as cancer.

• Advanced Molecular Genetics
• Embryology

• Andrew Brane, Ph.D. Program: Epigenetic molecular editing, dietary epigenetics and cancer prevention
• Mohammad Mijanur Rahman, Ph.D. Program: Epigenetic molecular editing and dietary cancer prevention
• Huixin Wu, GBS Ph.D. Program: Epigenetics of the gut microbiome in cancer prevention and therapy
• Sebanti Ganguly, Ph.D. Program: Cancer prevention using dietary epigenetic intervention
• Brittany Witt, Ph.D. Program: Epigenetics of the gut microbiome in cancer prevention

• Shizhao Li, Ph.D.: Epigenetic mechanisms for early-life cancer prevention

Books:

• Tollefsbol, T.O., ed., Medical Epigenetics (Academic Press, 2016). PROSE Award (Honorable Mention in Clinical Medicine category) by the American Publishers Awards for Professional and Scholarly Excellence. The awards have been issued since 1976 for "the very best in professional and scholarly publishing”. Also received "Highly Commended" award from the British Medical Association, 2017.
• Tollefsbol, T.O., ed., Transgenerational Epigenetics (Academic Press, 2014).
  “Wonderfully designed and full of provocative subjects.... This book is the first to be devoted in its entirety to transgenerational epigenetics. This book is of use to all individuals interested in gene expression and the influence of the environment on gene behavior. It is of extreme importance for medical genetics specialists who seek further understanding of the etiology of genetic disorders, and it provides information to aid the in understanding of diagnostic genomic results. In addition, teachers of genetics may find this book useful for incorporating epigenetic information into high school, undergraduate, and graduate level courses. This book is without comparison.” — Luis F. Escobar, MD, MS; St. Vincent Hospital and Health Care Center; Doody’s Book Reviews.
• Tollefsbol, T.O., ed., Handbook of Epigenetics: The New Molecular and Medical Genetics (Academic Press, 2011).
  "The Handbook of Epigenetics contains an impressive collection of 37 articles, mainly dealing with the biology of epigenetics. Covered topics range from molecular marks and mechanism, other model systems, epidemiology, aging and the brain to diseases…. In summary, the Handbook of Epigenetics provides a unique and useful combination of information and it is a valuable addition to the bookshelf of scientists with experience in the field." — CHEMBIOCHEM

Articles:

• Li S, Chen M, Li, S, Tollefsbol, TO. Prenatal epigenetics diets play protective roles against environmental pollution. Clinical Epigenetics, May 16;11(1):82. doi: 10.1186/s13148-019-0659-4, 2019. Featured on the journal’s home webpage. Also, highlighted in “On Biology”, a BMC website that reaches ~25,000 readers (“The epigenetics diet: A barrier against environmental pollution”).
• Li Y, Buckhaults P, Li S, Tollefsbol T. “Temporal Efficacy of a Sulforaphane-Based Broccoli Sprout Diet in Prevention of Breast Cancer through Modulation of Epigenetic Mechanisms.” Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2018 Aug;11(8):451-464. doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-17-0423. Featured in NIH newsletter, Nutrition Frontiers, Vol 9, Issue 3, 2018. Chosen based on scientific merit, innovation, and potential public health impact. Subject of news releases by Britain’s Daily Mail and the Scottish Daily Record.
• Paul B, Royston KJ, Li Y, Stoll ML, Skibola CF, Wilson LS, Barnes S, Morrow CD, Tollefsbol TO. Impact of genistein on the gut microbiome of humanized mice and its role in breast tumor inhibition. PLoS One. 2017 Dec 21;12(12):e0189756. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189756.
• Li Y, Meeran SM, Tollefsbol TO. Combinatorial bioactive botanicals re-sensitize tamoxifen treatment in ER-negative breast cancer via epigenetic reactivation of ERα expression. Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 24;7(1):9345. Featured in Nature.com. Subject of news releases in Reader’s Digest, Newsweek, Seeker, Alabama NewsCenter, Newsmax and many others. Ranked in the top percentile of papers published on oncology in Scientific Reports from 2017.
• Kala R, Tollefsbol TO. A Novel Combinatorial Epigenetic Therapy Using Resveratrol and Pterostilbene for Restoring Estrogen Receptor-α (ERα) Expression in ERα-Negative Breast Cancer Cells. PLoS One. 2016 May 9;11(5):e0155057.
• Paul B, Barnes S, Demark-Wahnefried W, Morrow C, Salvador C, Skibola C, Tollefsbol TO. Influences of diet and the gut microbiome on epigenetic modulation in cancer and other diseases. Clin Epigenetics. 2015 Oct 16;7:112. Among ‘Top Ten’ papers published in 2015 in Clinical Epigenetics.

• Distinguished Professor, 2021
• Frontiers in Genetics 2021 Outstanding Associate Editor Award – Specialty Section, Epigenomics and Epigenetics
• UAB Ireland Prize for Scholarly Distinction, 2015
• Principal Investigator: “Early life prevention of breast cancer with combined epigenetic botanicals”; National Institutes of Health R01 grant (Division of Cancer Prevention — National Cancer Institute)
• Principal Investigator: “Combinatorial epigenetic-based prevention of breast cancer”; National Institutes of Health R01 grant (Division of Cancer Prevention — National Cancer Institute)
• Director: Cell Senescence Culture Facility
• Series Editor: Translational Epigenetics by Elsevier
• Contributing Editor: Lewin’s GENES
• Epigenetics Society
• American Association for Cancer Research
• Center for Aging Steering Committee, 2000-2014
• College of Arts and Sciences Inaugural Promotion and Tenure Committee, 2012-2013
• Council for Postdoctoral Education, 2006-2011