Song Lab

Invited talk at #DDW2026: our PI, Dr. Mingyang Song (@HarvardChanSPH), presented on early-life risk factors for colorectal cancer and implications for prevention. Glad to share this work on such a stage and to continue advancing the field of early-onset CRC. #ColorectalCancer #CancerPrevention

Can colorectal cancer risk begin before birth? Excited to present our transgenerational study at #DDW2026, using data from NHS/NHSII/HPFS to examine prenatal parental lifestyles and offspring CRC risk. Our findings highlight pregnancy as a potential window for intergenerational cancer prevention. Stay tuned!

Celebrating #DDW2026 with a Song Lab group dinner 🍽️ DDW has always been a special time to wrap up our academic year of achievement—taking a moment to reflect, connect, and celebrate (even if it’s not quite the end yet). Cheers to all the contributions to our lab, to science, and to improving human health! 🎉

Excited to present our work at #DDW2026 —and proud to share Song Lab’s first presentation at this year’s meeting by our PhD student, Sunjeong Bae. This multi-omics study from the PREPARE trial shows that high-dose icosapent ethyl (EPA) profoundly reshapes the fecal lipidome—without major shifts in microbiome structure—highlighting a rewiring of host–microbe chemical interactions. If you didn’t get a chance to stop by, stay tuned for our manuscript!

🎥 We’re excited to share our new video introducing the Song Lab! Hear from a few members of our team as they talk about our research and what it’s like to be part of our lab community. Whether you’re a fellow researcher, student, or simply curious about our work, we hope you enjoy this glimpse into life at the Song Lab. Special thanks to @HarvardEpi and everyone who has contributed to our work! @MingyangSong3, Markus Dines Knudsen, @wangkaiepi, Mengxi Du, Ana Nogal, Yujia Lu, Heather Andrews, Chen Wang, MD MSc, Xinyu Wang #Research #Science #Innovation #SongLab

Exciting news from the Throne Holst Symposium at the University of Oslo’s Department of Nutrition! 🎉 This year, Markus Dines Knudsen—nominated by Anette Hjartåker, research group leader of Nutritional Epidemiology—was awarded Best Article of the Year by a Young Scientist for his paper published in JAMA Oncology: "Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality After Negative Colonoscopy Screening Results." This important research was a collaboration between the Song Lab at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and our colleagues in Oslo. The committee highlighted the study for advancing clinical practice guidelines, demonstrating the impact of international collaboration, and publishing in a leading journal. Congratulations, Markus! We’re proud to be part of research that helps shape the future of nutrition and cancer epidemiology. @HarvardChanSPH @HarvardEpi @MingyangSong3 @NCICancerCtrl @AmericanCancer #InternationalCollaboration #CancerEpidemiology

Colorectal polyps are increasingly being found in adults under 50. This concerning trend may help explain the rising number of colorectal cancer cases in younger individuals. At this year's Digestive Disease Week (DDW), Song Lab visiting scholar Yufeng Chen presented research showing that people under 50 who develop colorectal polyps face a similar risk of progression as older adults. What does this mean? Timely screening and ongoing monitoring are just as important for younger adults—not just those over 50. As we learn more about what’s driving earlier onset of colorectal cancer, these findings underscore the need to reconsider how and when we screen. #DDW2025 #ColorectalCancer #DigestiveHealth #CancerScreening #EarlyDetection #PublicHealth #CancerResearch @HarvardEpi @MingyangSong3 @DDWMeeting

Yesterday, Markus Dines Knudsen and Song Lab PI @MingyangSong3 shared compelling findings on how adopting healthier lifestyle habits after a colonoscopy screening could lower the risk of colorectal cancer and other major chronic diseases. #DDW2025 Their research highlights the powerful role of prevention and behavior change in long-term health outcomes. @HarvardEpi @DDWMeeting #CancerPrevention #ColorectalCancer #PublicHealth

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle after a colorectal cancer diagnosis is linked to a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. These findings highlight the importance of integrating lifestyle interventions into oncology care to improve cardiovascular health among survivors. Learn more about Song Lab member Mengxi Du's research findings at Digestive Disease Week 2025! #DDW2025 #CardiovascularHealth #OncologyCare #CardioOncology @HarvardEpi @MingyangSong3 @DDWMeeting

Why is colorectal cancer risk still high after adenoma removal? The gut microbiome and its metabolites might hold the answer! Dive into our findings with Ana Nogal at #DDW2025. #Microbiome #CRC

Kai Wang will deliver two talks at Digestive Disease Week 2025 #DDW2025: May 3 at 2:15 PM (Room 29CD): Exploring how diet shapes fecal bile acid profiles and impacts colorectal neoplasia risk. May 4 at 11:00 AM (Room 28DE) — AGA Basic Science Plenary: Unveiling how the gut microbiome drives bile acid metabolism through a multiomics analysis involving metagenomics, metabolomics, and proteomics. His work bridges diet, microbiome, and cancer prevention. If you’re attending DDW, you won’t want to miss these sessions! @HarvardEpi @MingyangSong3 #Microbiome #BileAcids #CancerPrevention #GutHealth #ColorectalCancer