Faculty profile

Ellen Sweeney

ResearcherCommunity Health and EpidemiologyDalhousie University

This profile is built from public research funding records (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) and PubMed. We have not imported them from a Dalhousie University directory, so their courses may be missing. Find their university profile.

Ellen Sweeney

Researcher

Community Health and Epidemiology

Health Sciences

Dalhousie University

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Supervision signals

Has led research grants, which requires an independent research appointment. Ask their department whether they supervise graduate students.
21 publications in the last five years, latest in 2026.
Senior (last) author on 3 recent papers, a sign of leading a research group.
Principal investigator on 2 research grants (2 CIHR), most recently in 2022.

These signals come from public records, including CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions. Ask the professor or the graduate program whether they are taking new students.

Academic metrics

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Citations

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Collaborators

Grants

Publications by year

Counts cover the works listed on the university profile; citation counts come from Dimensions.

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Signals and details

Research

Artificial Intelligence Behaviour Modification Chronic Diseases Dashboard Data Visualization Digital Health Lifecourse Health Multi-Morbidity Risk

Latest papers

Finding Associative and Causal Effects of Temporal Changes in Health Features for Prevalent and Incident Cancer in Males: A Machine Learning Approach.
Studies in health technology and informatics · 2026
Psychosocial factors and the risk of cancer: An individual-participant data meta-analysis.
Cancer · 2026
Enrichment of the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health Study: Protocol for Administering Multiple Online Dietary and Movement Behavior Assessment Tools in a Longitudinal Cohort Study.
JMIR research protocols · 2025

All 41 publications

Latest funding

The Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health (CanPath) Platform
CIHR · 2025 · Co-investigator
$2,999,685
CHARacterizing heterogeneity in dietary intake among structurally excluded populations using Multidimensional data (CHARM)
CIHR · 2024 · Co-investigator
$2,000,000
Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence based Platform for Early Chronic Disease Risk Assessment and Prediction to Improve Population Health
CIHR · 2022 · Principal investigator
$99,970

All 6 grants and awards

41 publications.

Finding Associative and Causal Effects of Temporal Changes in Health Features for Prevalent and Incident Cancer in Males: A Machine Learning Approach.

Choubineh A, Abidi SSR, Sweeney E, Abidi S

Studies in health technology and informatics2026

DOI: 10.3233/shti260111 PMID: 42174788

Psychosocial factors and the risk of cancer: An individual-participant data meta-analysis.

van Tuijl LA, Pan KY, Basten M, Vermeulen R, Portengen L, de Graeff A, Dekker J, Geerlings MI, Hoogendoorn AW, Lamers F, Voogd AC, Abell J, Awadalla P, Beekman ATF, Bjerkeset O, Boyd A, Cui Y, Frank P, Galenkamp H, Garssen B, Hellingman S, Huisman M, Huss A, de Jong TR, Keats MR, Kok AAL, Krokstad S, van Leeuwen FE, Luik AI, Noisel N, Payette Y, Penninx BWJH, Rissanen I, Roest AM, Ruiter R, Schoevers RA, Soave D, Spaan M, Steptoe A, Stronks K, Sund ER, Sweeney E, Twait EL, Teyhan A, Verschuren WMM, van der Willik KD, Rosmalen JGM, Ranchor AV

Cancer2026

DOI: 10.1002/cncr.70271 PMID: 41866892

Enrichment of the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health Study: Protocol for Administering Multiple Online Dietary and Movement Behavior Assessment Tools in a Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Murphy RA, Vena JE, Milano AD, Faulkner G, Lamarche B, Matthews CE, Minaker LM, Spicker D, Sweeney E, Wallace M, Widener MJ, Kirkpatrick SI

JMIR research protocols2025

DOI: 10.2196/71680 PMID: 41329954

The Association of Sleep Trouble and Physical Inactivity with Breast Cancer Risk in Nova Scotia: Evidence from the Atlantic PATH Cohort.

Feng C, Sweeney E

International journal of environmental research and public health2025Senior author

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22040471 PMID: 40283700

Investigating Skin Cancer Risk and Sun Safety Practices Among LGBTQ+ Communities in Canada.

Lagacé F, Mahmood F, Conte S, Mija LA, Moustaqim-Barrette A, LeBeau J, McKenna A, Maazi M, Hanna J, Kelly ASV, Lazarowitz R, Rahme E, Hrubeniuk TJ, Sweeney E, Litvinov IV

Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.)2024

DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31120593 PMID: 39727716

The mediating role of health behaviors in the association between depression, anxiety and cancer incidence: an individual participant data meta-analysis.

Pan KY, van Tuijl L, Basten M, Rijnhart JJM, de Graeff A, Dekker J, Geerlings MI, Hoogendoorn A, Ranchor AV, Vermeulen R, Portengen L, Voogd AC, Abell J, Awadalla P, Beekman ATF, Bjerkeset O, Boyd A, Cui Y, Frank P, Galenkamp H, Garssen B, Hellingman S, Hollander M, Huisman M, Huss A, Keats MR, Kok AAL, Krokstad S, van Leeuwen FE, Luik AI, Noisel N, Payette Y, Penninx BWJH, Picavet S, Rissanen I, Roest AM, Rosmalen JGM, Ruiter R, Schoevers RA, Soave D, Spaan M, Steptoe A, Stronks K, Sund ER, Sweeney E, Teyhan A, Twait EL, van der Willik KD, Lamers F

Psychological medicine2024

DOI: 10.1017/s0033291724000850 PMID: 38680088

Psychosocial factors, health behaviors and risk of cancer incidence: Testing interaction and effect modification in an individual participant data meta-analysis.

Basten M, Pan KY, van Tuijl LA, de Graeff A, Dekker J, Hoogendoorn AW, Lamers F, Ranchor AV, Vermeulen R, Portengen L, Voogd AC, Abell J, Awadalla P, Beekman ATF, Bjerkeset O, Boyd A, Cui Y, Frank P, Galenkamp H, Garssen B, Hellingman S, Huisman M, Huss A, Keats MR, Kok AAL, Krokstad S, van Leeuwen FE, Luik AI, Noisel N, Payette Y, Penninx BWJH, Rissanen I, Roest AM, Rosmalen JGM, Ruiter R, Schoevers RA, Soave D, Spaan M, Steptoe A, Stronks K, Sund ER, Sweeney E, Twait EL, Teyhan A, Verschuren WMM, van der Willik KD, Geerlings MI

International journal of cancer2024

DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34852 PMID: 38289012

Evidence that ovarian hormones, but not diet and exercise, contribute to the sex disparity in post-traumatic stress disorder.

Wiseman M, Hinks M, Hallett D, Blundell J, Sweeney E, Thorpe CM, Walling SG, Swift-Gallant A

Journal of psychiatric research2023

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.10.048 PMID: 37918034

Depression, anxiety, and the risk of cancer: An individual participant data meta-analysis.

van Tuijl LA, Basten M, Pan KY, Vermeulen R, Portengen L, de Graeff A, Dekker J, Geerlings MI, Hoogendoorn A, Lamers F, Voogd AC, Abell J, Awadalla P, Beekman ATF, Bjerkeset O, Boyd A, Cui Y, Frank P, Galenkamp H, Garssen B, Hellingman S, Huisman M, Huss A, de Jong TR, Keats MR, Kok AAL, Krokstad S, van Leeuwen FE, Luik AI, Noisel N, Onland-Moret NC, Payette Y, Penninx BWJH, Rissanen I, Roest AM, Ruiter R, Schoevers RA, Soave D, Spaan M, Steptoe A, Stronks K, Sund ER, Sweeney E, Twait EL, Teyhan A, Verschuren WMM, van der Willik KD, Rosmalen JGM, Ranchor AV

Cancer2023

DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34853 PMID: 37545248

Canada needs a funding institute focused on environments, health, and societal well-being research.

Buse CG, Aker A, McLaren L, HubkaRao T, Sweeney E, van der Jagt RHC, Members of the National Working Group on Environments, Health Research

Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique2023

DOI: 10.17269/s41997-023-00802-4 PMID: 37410366

The Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health (CanPath) Platform

Co-investigatorCIHR2025Op Grant: Pandemic Research Platforms Interim Funding - Population-Based Cohort

Principal investigators: Brooks, Jennifer D; Awadalla, Philip

Keywords: Administrative Health Data; Biospecimens; Cohort; Data Linkage; Environmental Data; Health Emergencies; Longitudinal; Pandemics; Research Platform; Surveillance

$2,999,685

CHARacterizing heterogeneity in dietary intake among structurally excluded populations using Multidimensional data (CHARM)

Co-investigatorCIHR2024Tm Gr.:Embr. Diversity to Achieve Precision/Health Equity-Nutrition/Meta. Health

Principal investigators: Murphy, Rachel; Gould, Shantelle; Bhatti, Parveen; Kirkpatrick, Sharon; Vena, Jennifer E

Keywords: Cancer Prevention; Dietary Intake; Health Equity; Metabolism; Population Health; Precision Nutrition

$2,000,000

Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence based Platform for Early Chronic Disease Risk Assessment and Prediction to Improve Population Health

Principal investigatorCIHR2022Catalyst Grant: CPHO Report - General Pool

Principal investigators: Abidi, Samina R; Abidi, Syed S; Sweeney, Ellen

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Behaviour Modification; Chronic Diseases; Dashboard; Data Visualization; Digital Health; Lifecourse Health; Multi-Morbidity Risk; Population Health; Risk Assessment

$99,970

Prevention of Environmental Arsenic Cancer Risks: Applying Machine Learning to Predict Arsenic Related Cancers for Proactive Primary Prevention Strategies

Co-investigatorSSHRC2021New Frontiers in Research Fund - Exploration

Principal investigators: Abidi, Syed Sibte Raza

Keywords: Cancer Risks Arsenic Exposure Machine Learning Metallomes Data Clustering Prediction Model Population Health Toxicology Arsenic Speciation Cancer Risk Biomarkers

$250,000

SUrveilling Prospective Population cOhorts for COVID19 pRevalence and ouTcomes in Canada (SUPPORT-Canada)

Principal investigatorCIHR2020Op Gr: COVID-19 Rapid Research FO - Clinical Mgmt/Health System Interventions

Principal investigators: Awadalla, Philip; Abelson, Sagi; Bhatti, Parveen; broet, philippe; Cheung, Angela M; Dick, John E; Dummer, Trevor J; Lettre, Guillaume; Mclaughlin, John R; Simpson, Jared T; Sweeney, Ellen; Turner, Donna C; Vena, Jennifer E

Keywords: Covid-19; Inflammatory Markers; Population Cohorts; Population Prevalence; Seroprevalence; Social Determinants Of Health

$2,105,486

Beyond smoking: Investigating risk factors for lung cancer in the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project

Co-investigatorCIHR2018Operating Grant: Data Analysis Using Existing Databases and Cohorts

Principal investigators: Murphy, Rachel

Keywords: Body Weight; Cancer Prevention; Cohort; Epidemiology; Lifestyle; Lung Cancer; Nutrition; Population Health; Risk Factors

$100,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

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Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2022

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Artificial Intelligence Dear Professor Sweeney, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Finding Associative and Causal Effects of Temporal Changes in Health Features for Prevalent and Incident Cancer in Males: A Machine Learning Approach." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence based Platform for Early Chronic Disease Risk Assessment and Prediction to Improve Population Health" (2022), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

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Ellen Sweeney

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Finding Associative and Causal Effects of Temporal Changes in Health Features for Prevalent and Incident Cancer in Males: A Machine Learning Approach.

Psychosocial factors and the risk of cancer: An individual-participant data meta-analysis.

Enrichment of the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health Study: Protocol for Administering Multiple Online Dietary and Movement Behavior Assessment Tools in a Longitudinal Cohort Study.

The Association of Sleep Trouble and Physical Inactivity with Breast Cancer Risk in Nova Scotia: Evidence from the Atlantic PATH Cohort.

Investigating Skin Cancer Risk and Sun Safety Practices Among LGBTQ+ Communities in Canada.

The mediating role of health behaviors in the association between depression, anxiety and cancer incidence: an individual participant data meta-analysis.

Psychosocial factors, health behaviors and risk of cancer incidence: Testing interaction and effect modification in an individual participant data meta-analysis.

Evidence that ovarian hormones, but not diet and exercise, contribute to the sex disparity in post-traumatic stress disorder.

Depression, anxiety, and the risk of cancer: An individual participant data meta-analysis.

Canada needs a funding institute focused on environments, health, and societal well-being research.

The Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health (CanPath) Platform

CHARacterizing heterogeneity in dietary intake among structurally excluded populations using Multidimensional data (CHARM)

Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence based Platform for Early Chronic Disease Risk Assessment and Prediction to Improve Population Health

Prevention of Environmental Arsenic Cancer Risks: Applying Machine Learning to Predict Arsenic Related Cancers for Proactive Primary Prevention Strategies

SUrveilling Prospective Population cOhorts for COVID19 pRevalence and ouTcomes in Canada (SUPPORT-Canada)

Beyond smoking: Investigating risk factors for lung cancer in the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project

Frequent collaborators

Vanessa Declercq

Louise Parker

Philip Awadalla

Parveen Bhatti

Maryam Darvishian

Nolwenn Noisel

Ashlyn Swift-Gallant

Catherine Worthington

Elham Rahme

Scott Grandy

Guy Faulkner

Michael Wallace

Trevor Dummer

Jacqueline Gahagan

Jacqueline Gahagan

Samina Abidi

Lindsay Mclaren