Dr. Meng-Han Tsai

 
 
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Meng-Han Tsai, PhD

Assistant Professor

Contact Information 

Link to CV

Dr. Meng-Han Tsai is an Assistant Professor of Cancer Epidemiology with a strong record of scholarships in cancer disparities, with a particular focus on colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention and outcomes. Her research examines trends in CRC incidence and mortality, predictors of CRC survival, and the role of multi-level social determinants of health in shaping prevention, access to treatment, and survival outcomes. Dr. Tsai has extensive experience conducting multilevel analyses using large-scale data sources, including cancer registries, national population-based surveys, Medicare claims, and medical records. Her work also addresses chronic disease conditions that intersect with cancer risk and outcomes. Dr. Tsai’s long-term research goal is to increase awareness of cancer risk and improve access to high-quality care, particularly for populations disproportionately affected by CRC.

Education & Training

  • University of South Carolina-Columbia, Health Services Policy and Management, Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2018
  • University of South Carolina-Columbia, Health Services Policy and Management, PhD, 2016
  • Kaohsiung Medical University (Taiwan), Health Administration, MS, 2010
  • I-Shou University (Taiwan), Health Administration, BS, 2008

Projects

Pathways to Prevention: Exploring Social Determinants of Health in Early Onset Colorectal Cancer 

1 R21CA301113 National Cancer Institute 
April 2025 through March 2027
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Sex and Racial Differences in Health Care Delivery after Cancer Diagnosis for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer

Augusta ROAR SCORE Pilot Grant U54HL169191
June 2025 through May 2026
Role: Principal Investigator

 

Pathways to Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis at an Underserved Community in Georgia

Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University
July 2025 - June 2026
Role: Principal Investigator 

The Study of Colorectal Cancer Risk Perceptions and Outcomes among Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer

Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University
April 2024 through June 2026
Role: Principal Investigator

Honors & Awards

  1. 2025 Outstanding Population Science Investigator, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University
  2. 2021 Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) Fellow
  3. 2020 American Association for Cancer Research Scholar-in-Training Award
  4. 2018 Outstanding Alumni by Department of Health Administration, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Select Publications

Pubmed
  1. Tsai, M.H. *, Coughlin, S., Cortes, J., Vega, K.J. Geographic, Racial, and Sex Disparities in Time to Treatment for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer, JAMA Network Open, 2026;9;(3):e261980. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.1980
  2. Tsai, M.H. *, Cortes, J., Lee, M., Sifuentes, H., Bae, S. Treatment Delays and Survival Divides: Race, Sex, and Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Disparities. Cancer Research Communications, 2026; https://doi.org/10.1158/2767-9764.CRC-25-0659.
  3. Tsai, M.H. *, Vo, J.B., Moore, J.X., Ramin,C., Guha, A., Dong,Y. Mediating effects of mental and physical health on the association between the presence of chronic diseases and colorectal cancer screening among breast cancer survivors. PLoS One, 2025; 20(8): e0328353. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328353
  4. Pollard, E., Guha, A., Harris, R., Wang, X., Zhu, H., Dong, Y., Weintraub, N., Tsai, M.H*. Cardiovascular conditions and cancer history: Implications for colorectal and breast cancer screening, Journal of Medical Screening, https://doi.org/10.1177/09691413251388517.
  5. Tsai, M.H.*, Cortes, J., Pollard, E. ^, Vernon, M., Dong, Y., Vega, K., Coughlin, S.S. Age-related disparities in survival following colorectal cancer diagnosis in an underserved community in Georgia: A retrospective cohort analysis, Journal of Geriatric Oncology, 2025; 16(7): 102318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2025.102318.
  6. Tsai, M.H. *, Coughlin, S.S., Lee, M., Cortes, J., Dong, Y. Associations between a social determinant of health summary measure and self-reported physical and mental health among cancer survivors. Psycho-Oncology 2024, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pon.9314.
  7. Tsai, M.H. *, Coughlin, S.S., Cortes, J. Thompson, C.A. Intersection of Poverty and Rurality for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Survival. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(8):e2430615. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.30615
  8. Tsai, M.H. *, Lee, M., Coughlin, S.S., Eberth, J.M., Rogers, C. Cancer History and Social Support Impact Colorectal Cancer Screening Utilization by Race/Ethnicity. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2024 Jul 12;. doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-24-0121.
  9. Tsai, M.H. *, Moore, J.X., Cabral, D.N., Rogers, C., Cortes, J. Temporal trends in early-onset colorectal cancer incidence (2000-2020) by age group and five geographic regions in the state of Georgia, American Journal of Cancer Research. 2024; 14(1): 182-191.
  10. Tsai, M.H. *, Bevel, M.S., Andrzejak,S.E. Racial/Ethnic Disparity in the Relationship of Mental and Physical Health with Colorectal Cancer Screening Utilization among Breast and Prostate Cancer Survivors. JCO Oncol Pract. 2023 Feb 17: OP2200718.
 

      CONTACT Dr. Meng-Han Tsai

  Campus (HS-1705)
  1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912
  706-721-7706       706-721-7150
  metsai@augusta.edu