Join us in making a difference! Our 10K Team: The Network Runner is proud to support the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), a cornerstone of Mass General Brigham and a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

The Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) is one of the most influential investigations of women's health ever conducted. For nearly 50 years, NHS has transformed our understanding of how diet, lifestyle, and other factors affect women’s health, leading to groundbreaking discoveries about cancer, heart disease, dementia, and more.

As a researcher with a focus on diet and breast cancer prevention and survival, I have seen firsthand the power of these studies. My work uses NHS/NHSII data to explore how dietary habits can impact breast cancer risk and outcomes. Findings from my research have shown that a pro-inflammatory diet or a dietary pattern contributing to hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer, including aggressive subtypes, and worse survival among survivors. We have also shown that aspartame, classified as a possible carcinogen by IARC, is not associated with a higher risk of breast cancer.

NHS is one of the most ambitious and fruitful investigations into how lifestyle factors affect health, with over 280,000 nurses enrolled across three generations. This study has produced more than 4,000 peer-reviewed publications, fundamentally changing our understanding of the relationship between lifestyle, diet, and chronic disease prevention.

But this vital study is at risk of ending without additional funding. By supporting our team, you help ensure that NHS/NHSII can continue their mission—uncovering critical insights and improving the health of millions around the world.