Unhee Lim, PhD, MS, RD
Full Member, Population Sciences in the Pacific Program (Cancer Epidemiology), University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center
Academic Appointment(s):
Professor (Researcher), Population Sciences in the Pacific Program (Cancer Epidemiology), University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center
Graduate Faculty, Human Nutrition, College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Degree(s):
PhD, Human Nutrition and Nutritional Epidemiology, Cornell University
MS, Human Nutrition, Cornell University
Registered Dietitian, Yale University Hospital
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute
Research Focus
Dr. Lim's research focuses on the role of lifestyle factors in the development of chronic diseases (cancers and dementia) and racial and ethnic health disparities. She is particularly interested in using biomarkers (blood biochemistry, DNA methylation, the gut microbiome, imaging, and accelerometry) in tandem with questionnaires to assess risk factor exposures and disease risks.
Some of her recent research questions were related to the following:
- How are the risks and disparities of Alzheimer’s and related dementias explained by the distribution of known non-genetic risk factors?
- How does ectopic adiposity (visceral fat and liver fat) contribute to metabolic disease risks?
- How are specific dietary patterns, such as the consumption of plant-based foods or ultraprocessed foods, associated with the risk of cancers, precancerous conditions, and dementia?
Dr. Lim accepts undergraduate students for research training mostly through the UH Cancer Center's CREATE summer internship program. Interested students should inquire at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. about the CREATE program and application process.
Selected Publications
Song MA, Gupta A, Park SY, Kim J, Archer KJ, Tiirikainen M, Franke A, Wilkens LR, Le Marchand L, Chung D, Lim U. Differential blood DNA methylation loci between Native Hawaiian and White women are associated with dietary patterns and metabolic biomarkers. Sci Rep. 2025. PMID: 41315584.
Park SY, Setiawan VW, Crimmins EM, White LR, Haiman CA, Wilkens LR, Le Marchand L, Lim U. Dietary patterns and risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias across 5 racial and ethnic groups in the Multiethnic Cohort Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2025. PMID: 40744415. PMC12396844.
Moosavi D, Curtis KR, Randolph TW, Kahsai OJ, Ammar H, Lim U, Cheng I, Wilkens LR, Le Marchand L, Lampe JW, Hullar MAJ. Stability and Variability of the Human Fecal Microbiome Over Two Years in the Multiethnic Cohort Study: A Metagenomic Analysis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2025. PMID: 40402042. PMC12247528.
Wilkens LR, Castelfranco A, Monroe KR, Kristal BS, Cheng I, Maskarinec G, Hullar MA, Lampe JW, Shepherd JA, Franke AA, Ernst T, Le Marchand L, Lim U. Prediction of future visceral adiposity and application to cancer research: The Multiethnic Cohort Study. PLoS One 2024. PMID: 39024224. PMC11257330.
Park SY, Setiawan VW, Crimmins EM, White LR, Wu AH, Cheng I, Darst BF, Haiman CA, Wilkens LR, Le Marchand L, Lim U. Racial and ethnic differences in the population attributable fractions of Alzheimer disease and related dementias. Neurology 2024. PMID: 38232335. PMC11097758.
Publication list via MyNCBI
Active Grants
U. Lim, Co-Investigator; L. Le Marchand, PI
National Cancer Institute
R01 CA258179
“Effects of intermittent energy restriction on intra-abdominal fat and the gut microbiome: a randomized trial”
09/2021 – 08/2026
U. Lim, Co-Investigator; S. Y. Park, PI
National Institute on Aging
R03 AG081824
“Prospective association of diet and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias among five racial and ethnic populations”
09/2023 – 08/2026
U. Lim, J. Lampe and M. Hullar, MPIs
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
R01 MD018265
“Longitudinal study of early NAFLD progression and the gut microbiome in Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Whites”
09/2022 – 06/2027
U. Lim, J. Lampe and M. Hullar, MPIs
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
R01 MD018265-03S1
“Administrative Supplement on Alzheimer’s Disease to Interrogate the Liver-Brain Axis”
07/2024 – 06/2027
U. Lim, J. Lampe and M. Hullar, MPIs
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
R01 MD018265-03S2
"Diversity Administrative Supplement on Plant-based Diets, the Gut Microbiome and NAFLD Progression"
09/2024 – 06/2027
U. Lim, Co-Investigator; S. Y. Park, PI
Alzheimer’s Association
Alzheimer’s Association Research Grant – New to the Field Award
“Blood pTau validation of Alzheimer disease in high-risk populations”
08/2024 – 07/2026
