Dr. Ron Eldridge is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University and a cancer epidemiologist by training. His research investigates the biological and clinical mechanisms that drive cancer-associated symptoms, treatment outcomes, and survival, with a focus on weight loss and cachexia in head and neck cancer. He integrates advanced epidemiologic methods with multi-omics data—including metabolomics and epigenetics—to identify early biomarkers and improve symptom prediction and patient care.

Dr. Eldridge earned his B.S. from Loyola University Chicago, MPH from the Rollins School of Public Health, and PhD in Epidemiology from Emory University. He completed a postdoctoral Cancer Prevention Fellowship at the National Cancer Institute in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.

At Emory, he leads interdisciplinary research and teaches doctoral-level courses in study design, data analytics, and applied statistics. He mentors both doctoral and BSN students in research methods, data analysis, manuscript preparation, and conference presentations. He is committed to fostering critical thinking and hands-on learning across levels, and to training future nurse scientists and public health professionals to address complex clinical and population health challenges.

Ongoing Grants

• Integrative Multi-Omics of Metabolomics and Epigenetics to Explore the Pathophysiology of Cachexia and Survival in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Recently Completed Grants 

• Validating a Plasma Metabolomic Biomarker to Improve Precision Medicine in Head and Neck Cancer Patients
  National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Progressing Toward Precision Medicine in Head and Neck Cancer Through High-Resolution Metabolomics
  Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance (KL2)

• Withycombe JS, Bai J, Xiao C, Eldridge RC. Metabolomic Associations With Fatigue and Physical Function in Children With Cancer: A Pilot Study. Biol Res Nurs. 2025 Apr 19. doi: 10.1177/10998004251335639. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40251999.
• Bai J, Eldridge RC, Martin M, Powell C, Sutton KS, Noh HI, Richardson B, Wu Y, Shen N, Olson T, Konstantinidis KT, Bruner DW. Multi-Omics Analysis of the Gut Microbiome and Metabolites Associated with the Psychoneurological Symptom Cluster in Children with Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy. Journal of Translational Medicine. 22, 256 (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05066-1
• Eldridge RC, Qin ZS, Saba NF, Houser MC, Hayes DN, Miller AH, Bruner DW, Jones DP, Xiao C. Unsupervised Hierarchical Clustering of Head and Neck Cancer Patients by Pre-Treatment Plasma Metabolomics Creates Prognostic Metabolic Subtypes. Cancers. 2023; 15(12):3184. PMCID: PMC10296258
• Bai J, Withycombe JS, Eldridge, RC. Metabolomic Pathways Associated with Psychoneurological Symptoms in Children with Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy. Biological Research For Nursing. 2022;24(3):281-293. doi:10.1177/10998004211069619 PMCID: PMC9343884
• Withycombe JS, Eldridge RC, Gu H, Castellino S, Sears D. Metabolites associated with Fatigue and Physical Activity in Childhood Cancer. Biological Research For Nursing. 2022;24(3):350-361. PMCID: PMC9343883
• Eldridge RC, Uppal K, Shokouhi M, Smith MR, Hu X, Qin ZS, Jones DP and Hajjar I. Multiomics Analysis of Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain and Cerebrospinal Fluid Metabolomics in Cognitively Normal and Impaired Adults. Front. Aging Neurosci. (2022). 13:796067. PMCID: PMC8822333
• Eldridge RC, Uppal K, Hayes DN, Smith MR, Hu X, Qin ZS, Beitler JJ, Miller AH, Wommack EC, Higgins KA, Shin DM, Ulrich BC, Qian DC, Saba NF, Bruner DW, Jones DP, Xiao C. Plasma metabolic phenotypes of HPV-associated vs smoking-associated head and neck cancer and patient survival. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers & Prev. 2021 Oct;30(10):1858-1866. PMCID: PMC8492502
• Eldridge RC, Wentzensen, N, Pfeiffer RM, Brinton LA, Hartge P, Guillemette C, Kemp TJ, Pinto LA, Trabert B. Endogenous estradiol and inflammation biomarkers: potential interacting mechanisms of obesity-related disease. Cancer Causes and Control. 2020; 31(4), 309-320. PMID: 32100190 PMCID: PMC7472689
• Eldridge RC, Pugh S, Fu KK, Fisher J, Trotti A, Hu K, Birrer MJ, Yom S, Rosenthal D, Read N, Desai A, Gore E, Shenouda G, Mishra M, Bruner DW, Xiao C. Changing functional status within six months post-treatment is predictive of overall survival in patients with head and neck cancer: NRG Oncology Study. Head & Neck. 2019 November; 41(11): 3924–3932. PMID: 31435980 PMCID: PMC6865821
• Eldridge RC, Flanders WD, Bostick RM, Fedirko V, Goodman M. A novel application of structural equation modeling estimates the association between oxidative stress and colorectal adenoma. Cancer Prevention Research. 2018. 11(1) 52-58. PMID: 29074536
• Eldridge RC, Pawlita M, Wilson L, Castle PE, Waterboer T, Gravitt PE, Schiffman M, Wentzensen N. Smoking and subsequent HPV infection: a mediation analysis. Annals of Epidemiology. 2017. 27:724-30. PMID: 29107447 PMCID: PMC5705255 (paper of the month)
• Eldridge RC, Flanders WD, Bostick RM, Fedirko V, Goodman M. Using Multiple Biomarkers and Determinants to Obtain a Better Measurement of Oxidative Stress: a Latent Variable Structural Equation Model Approach. Biomarkers. 2017. 22(6):517-24. PMID: 28298141

Dr. Eldridge is committed to preparing nursing students for success in clinical research through rigorous training in study design, data analytics, and statistical interpretation. His teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking and the application of epidemiologic methods to real-world healthcare problems. As an epidemiologist in a School of Nursing, he brings an interdisciplinary perspective to the classroom, helping students build the skills necessary for impactful, practice-based scholarship.

He teaches required doctoral-level courses in both the DNP and PhD programs, including Design Methods and Analyses (NRSG 709D) in the DNP curriculum and Quantitative Methods and Study Design II (NRSG 730) in the PhD curriculum. These courses focus on applied statistics, study design, data interpretation, and analytic reasoning using real-world datasets. Dr. Eldridge has led major course redesigns in both programs to enhance integration of clinical relevance, statistical tools, and scientific writing.

Student evaluations consistently highlight his ability to demystify complex topics, provide actionable examples, and support diverse learning needs. Learners describe his teaching as clear, responsive, and deeply invested in their growth as scholars.

Mentorship is a core part of Dr. Eldridge’s teaching identity. He has mentored more than a dozen DNP and PhD students on projects, guiding them through statistical analyses, manuscript development, and national conference presentations.

My research seeks to improve the lives of cancer patients by uncovering the biological mechanisms that drive symptoms, treatment response, and survival. I use multi-omics approaches—particularly metabolomics and epigenetics—alongside clinical, imaging, and patient-reported data to identify early biomarkers of cancer-related complications such as fatigue, weight loss, and cachexia. My goal is to advance precision oncology by enabling more timely, personalized interventions that improve outcomes and reduce suffering.

As an epidemiologist working in a School of Nursing, I am committed to bridging rigorous science with clinical relevance. I focus on questions that matter to patients and providers, using interdisciplinary methods to move biomarker discovery closer to application in real-world care. My research also emphasizes methodological innovation and equity—designing studies that not only generate insights into cancer biology but also address disparities in outcomes and survivorship.

Mentorship is central to my work. I actively support both doctoral and undergraduate students in developing the skills to conduct meaningful, data-driven research that informs practice and policy.

• Research Poster Award, NHWSN, Emory University, 2019
• Paper of the month award, Annals of Epidemiology, 2018
• Fellows Award for Research Excellence, National Institutes of Health, 2016
• SERdigital Conference Award, Society for Epidemiological Research, 2015
• Cancer Prevention Research Training Fellowship Award, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2012
• Global Field Experience Research Award, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 2009