Research and Teaching Interests

James Hébert, Health Sciences Distinguished Professor of Epidemiology, focuses his research efforts on: 1) the role of diet in cancer and other chronic diseases; 2) the relationship between diet and other important risk factors; and 3) methodologic improvements in both study design and measurement technologies for diet and other risk factors. As Director of University of South Carolina’s Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Dr. Hébert oversees a large, eclectic research portfolio that addresses a wide array of public health concerns. Though wide-ranging in his interests, the centerpiece of his current research efforts is the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®), which he invented in 2004. Collaborating with hundreds scientists in most of the United States and in 54 countries throughout the world, this body of work is now producing one peer-reviewed publication per week and being cited over 50 times per week. Students and former students are involved in all of this work, which imbues the research with an incredible level of energy, enthusiasm and creativity.