Episode #442 Science as a Human Right, With Robin Taylor Wilson, PhD, MA

Laura Hollabaugh
13 minutes ago
5 min read

On This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast

When Cancer Shows Up Decades Too Early

More people in their 20s and 30s are being diagnosed with colon, ovarian, and kidney cancers that doctors typically expect to see in patients over 60. Dr. Robin Taylor Wilson, a cancer epidemiologist at Temple University, explains why this alarming trend demands both immediate awareness and long-term prevention strategies. Young adults often dismiss symptoms because cancer isn't on their radar, but that delay can be costly.

The Science You Have a Right to Access

Robin discusses her work with the International Network for Epidemiology in Policy (INEP) on a crucial policy statement about the right to science. This right has two parts: scientists have the right to freely investigate and benefit from their work, and citizens have the right to participate in and benefit from scientific innovation. When communities can't access the benefits of research advances, whether in cancer screening, vaccine development, or public health programs, that's a breach of the right to science.

What Five Years of PFAS Research Is Revealing

Robin is wrapping up a major multi-site study investigating health effects from per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure in communities surrounding former military bases. These communities were primarily exposed through drinking water, but the implications extend far beyond military installations. This research points to a national issue that demands attention: the cumulative chemical exposures we all face daily.

What Students Are Demanding Right Now

When students approach Robin with urgent questions, they're not asking about abstract theories. They want to know what they can do about climate change and chemical exposures on campus, in their communities, and as individuals. They're seeking tools to combat misinformation and find reputable sources. This generation is choosing public health careers during one of the most challenging periods for the field, and they're bringing energy and ideas the profession desperately needs.

Trust in Science Might Surprise You

Despite what headlines suggest, survey data reveals that over 85% of respondents during COVID said they trusted or highly trusted scientists. Robin argues that this trust comes with profound responsibility. Every detail must be investigated, every method carefully considered, and data understood backwards and forwards. The general public is putting faith in researchers to get it right.

Why Cancer Surveillance Investments Matter More Than Ever

The United States has an excellent cancer surveillance system, built over decades starting in the 1960s and 70s. These early investments in understanding cancer are paying off now by allowing researchers to identify trends like rising early onset cancers. Robin emphasizes that now, with cancer incidence rising, is absolutely not the time to cut these investments. Robust registries and trained registrars are essential infrastructure that took years to build and would be devastating to lose.

About Our Guest

Dr. Robin Taylor Wilson, PhD, MA

Dr. Robin Taylor Wilson is an associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the Barnett College of Public Health at Temple University in Philadelphia. She serves as the director of the Kidney Cancer Research Prevention Program, where her research focuses on the intersection between genetic and environmental factors influencing kidney cancer risk.

Robin's research has been funded by the National Cancer Institute, the American Institute for Cancer Research, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Temple Fox Chase Cancer Center, the CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the FDA, the National Institutes of General Medical Sciences, and the US Naval Health Research Center. She is the founding principal investigator for three epidemiologic studies that have included over 2,000 participants.

Throughout her career, Robin has published over 65 peer-reviewed papers, given over 200 research presentations, taught over 1,000 students, and directly mentored 106 students and faculty at all levels, from high school through faculty positions. She has been awarded tenure at two Research One (R1) academic institutions, where she taught courses in environmental health, cancer epidemiology, and molecular epidemiology.

Robin holds a PhD and MA. She discovered epidemiology late in her academic journey while completing a master's degree in geography and demography. Standing in the library stacks reading journal articles for her thesis background research, she realized epidemiology was exactly what she wanted to do. She is the former chair of the American Public Health Association's Epidemiology Section and currently serves as chair of the International Network for Epidemiology in Policy (INEP).

Listen To This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast

Conversation Highlights

Early onset cancers are rising in young adults, but awareness lags behind the trend.

People in their 20s and 30s are being diagnosed with cancers traditionally seen in their 60s and 70s. Young people often dismiss symptoms because they're busy and cancer isn't on their radar, leading to dangerous delays in diagnosis.

The right to science belongs to both researchers and citizens.

Scientists have the right to freely investigate and benefit from their work, but equally important is the citizen's right to participate in and benefit from scientific innovation. Public health plays a key role in ensuring that research advances reach communities that need them.

Trust in scientists remains surprisingly high despite political attacks on science.

National survey data from the COVID period showed over 85% of respondents said they trusted or highly trusted scientists. This public trust carries profound responsibility for researchers to maintain rigorous standards and careful methods.

Chemical exposures from PFAS represent a national public health issue, not just a problem near military bases.

Robin's five-year multi-site study on PFAS exposure near former Air Force bases is revealing health impacts that point to broader concerns about the cumulative chemical exposures everyone faces daily.

Today's public health students are demanding tools to address environmental threats and combat misinformation.

Students are choosing to enter public health during one of its most challenging periods, and they're asking urgent questions about what they can do on campus, in communities, and as individuals to address climate change and environmental exposures.

Decades of investment in cancer surveillance systems are paying off now and must be protected.

The robust cancer registry system built starting in the 1960s and 70s allows researchers to identify critical trends like rising early onset cancers. These surveillance systems took years to build and would be devastating to lose during a period of rising cancer incidence.

Connecting with communities creates research insights that desk work alone cannot provide.

Robin emphasizes that community engagement is not a one-way street where researchers tell communities information. Approaching communities with humility and asking what they're seeing can reveal insights and ideas that triangulate with research to promote more effective prevention.

"It is really just as important for me to come with a humble attitude and learn, what can I learn about what's going on in this community? What are people seeing that I might not see?" - Dr. Robin Wilson

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