Adana A. M. Llanos

Residency: Columbia Global Center Nairobi

Research: Expanding Research and Community Engagement on Personal Care Product-Related Health Risks in Kenya

Adana A.M. Llanos is a tenured associate professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health, co-leader of the Cancer Population Science Program at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, and a member of the NIEHS Center for Environmental Health and Justice in Northern Manhattan at Columbia University. As a geneticist, cancer and molecular epidemiologist, and health equity scholar, her independent research program investigates the intersection of social, structural, and biological drivers of health to understand sociobiological mechanisms contributing to worse cancer outcomes among vulnerable communities. Her most recent work focuses on the effects of chemical exposure from personal care product (PCP) use, including chemical relaxers and hair straightening products that are popular among Black and African ancestry women.

As a scholar-in-residence at Columbia Global Center Nairobi, she seeks to expand ger ongoing research collaborations and community engagement in Kenya related to the prevalence and health risks of PCP use, particularly hair products. With breast cancer rates rising in the region, concerns about exposure to harmful chemicals found in PCPs are growing.

Building on prior work she conducted in Embu and Nakuru Counties in Kenya through a collaboration with investigators at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), this initiative will extend community-engaged education sessions to Nairobi. These sessions will inform members of local communities about the potential health risks of PCP use, particularly exposure to endocrine-disrupting and carcinogenic chemicals found in relaxers. By partnering with the Nairobi Center, KEMRI, and local stakeholders, this program will foster public health awareness, facilitate discussions, and support the development of sustainable research collaborations.

This residency will provide a platform to deepen bidirectional knowledge exchange, amplify environmental health literacy, and drive the development of evidence-based interventions that mitigate harmful exposures in vulnerable populations. By fostering collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and communities, this work will contribute to sustainable public health solutions and long-term capacity-building in Kenya.