I am a behavioral scientist with a research focus on understanding and addressing cancer health disparities. My clinical training as a psychologist and extensive NIH-funded research history includes the design, evaluation and dissemination of behavioral and environmental interventions to address…
Currently I work in cancer surveillance via survey methods to investigate factors related to disparities in cancer prevention, access to treatment, quality of life, and cancer-related protective and risk factors across the lifespan. As the Director of the HCC’s Population Survey Facility,…
Dr. Belcher’s research focuses on understanding and improving health outcomes among patients with cancer, particularly among patients with high cost and advanced cancers and among socioeconomically disadvantaged and historically excluded populations. Her career development award is investigating how adherence…
Interdisciplinary studies of: biobehavioral factors in cancer; the emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and biological consequences of breast cancer risk; the contribution of biobehavioral factors to side effects of medical treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) and interventions that may ameliorate those effects; interactions…
The mission of my research is to improve pain management and quality of life for patients with cancer. am currently funded by the Pitt CTSI KL2 to explore stigma around prescription opioids in adults with advanced cancer, who often have high…
My long-term goal is to develop a program of research focused on preventing tobacco-related cancer mortalities. I have a diverse background in computer science, social network analysis, online social media, and cancer prevention. The focus of my research has been…
In her research, Dr. Conklin is applying a translational perspective to the investigation of subjective, physiological, and behavioral reactivity to drug-related cues in adult smokers, and on identifying the types of cues and other environmental contexts that have the greatest…
Dr. Conley’s research interests are in the field of molecular genetics. She has a fully equipped molecular genomics laboratory located within the School of Nursing, and her lab is involved with several research projects. Her current research focuses on genomic…
Dr. Davis is a Professor in the Departments of Neurobiology and Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. During his 35 years of running his own laboratory he as developed three main research programs. The first research program explores normal function…
I investigate longitudinal patterns of drug use and reproductive health in pregnant and parenting people. I take a developmental approach, meaning that I am interested in the timing of behavior within the context of important life events such as puberty,…
Dr. Donovan’s research interests are in the development and testing of interventions to improve symptoms and quality of life among individuals with cancer and their family caregivers (NINR R01NR010735; NR01370; 90RTGE0002). She has specific expertise in the integration of theory…
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), or HHV-8, is a member of the human herpesvirus family whose DNA sequences have been found in samples of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). A number of projects in our laboratory are focused on the prevalence of KSHV…
My research interests are centered on structuring and delivering health information through an informatics-based approach to diverse demographic groups, with a particular focus on minority populations. I have actively involved community residents in my research, conducting assessments to understand their…
Michele D. Levine, PhD, a licensed clinical and health psychologist, is Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology and Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Levine’s program of research focuses on relationships among health behaviors and mental health…
Dr. Low is a clinical health psychologist focused on using consumer mobile technology including wearable devices and smartphones for remote monitoring of symptoms and functioning during cancer treatment. Her team is interested in using these real-world data to predict clinical outcomes,…
My research interests are in the underlying causes of mobility disability in cancer survivors. Specifically, I am interested in investigating how neuromuscular and cognitive capacities change with cancer and treatment and how they are associated with changes in balance, gait,…
I am a Tenured Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, the director of Pitt's CHAllenges in Management and Prevention of Pain (CHAMPP) center, and the PI of a NIDA-funded research center, Tailored Retention and Engagement for Equitable Treatment…
Dr. Marci Lee Nilsen is a nurse scientist dedicated to advancing research in the realm of head and neck cancer survivorship. Her research program is centered on enhancing the quality of life and overall survival of individuals within this population by…
Research in the Orwig laboratory focuses on stem cells, germ lineage development, fertility, and infertility. Our progress investigating reproductive function in fertile individuals provides a basis for understanding the mechanisms of infertility caused by disease, medical treatments, genetic defects, or aging. …
Dr. Perkins has been continually funded by NIH since 1986 to conduct research focused largely on two broad “themes”. One emphasizes translational studies, drawing on preclinical findings to examine acute effects of nicotine (and cigarette smoking) that may explain persistence of…
I have conducted behavioral research in a variety of cancer populations including breast, gynecologic, head and neck, and hematological malignancies. I currently hold an NCI K23 Career Development Award examining adherence to the medical regimen for hematological cancer patients who…
My current research is in the field of exercise oncology. My focus is the development, use, and implementation of exercise for cancer prevention, control, and survivorship. I am also interested in using dissemination and implementation science to expand exercise services…
Our team’s research is focused on the factors that ensure that all women with breast cancer receive timely diagnoses, treatment, and support. Our research, education, and outreach initiatives are directed toward Black women with breast cancer, women with metastatic breast…
I am a pediatric hematologist-oncologist and a health services researcher. I have a masters of science in clinical epidemiology. My research focuses on investigating social determinants of health (SDOH) as it relates to pediatric cancer access, care, and outcomes with…
Dr. Sabik is a health economist and health services researcher focused on investigating how state and federal policies affect healthcare access, utilization, and health outcomes among low-income and underserved populations, with a particular focus on cancer care. Recent and ongoing…
The Saloman lab focuses on how peripheral nerves shape the incipient tumor microenvironment. Current studies are designed to understand how sensory and sympathetic nerves regulate anti-tumor immunity and cancer pain. Several immune checkpoint proteins are expressed by the neurons that…
Dr. Sayette's research focuses on psychological theories of alcohol use and abuse, cigarette smoking, and drug craving, and on cognitive, affective, and social processes in addiction.
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) causes severe pain and stress, which exceeds the levels seen in other cancers. Beyond sensory/pain signaling, the peripheral nervous system has been identified as a component of the cancer microenvironment and may be…
My primary research interest is in the integration of palliative care services in oncology, with a particular focus on developing new models to improve provision of ‘primary’ palliative care within oncology practices. Secondary research interests include goals of care discussions,…
I am an exercise oncology researcher. My work focuses on large clinical trials related to physical activity and cancer, across the cancer control continuum, from primary prevention to addressing the needs of advanced cancer patients. The central mission of my…
I am a PhD-prepared biostatistician and have collaborated with cancer researchers, primarily in the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, for more than 25 years in the area of behavioral and biomedical science, particularly symptom science and the possible toxic…
Dr. Shadel’s research ranges from basic human laboratory work designed to understand the biopsychosocial mechanisms that contribute to smoking initiation and cessation, to the evaluation of cognitive-behavioral and pharmacological smoking cessation interventions in the clinic and public health settings. He…
My primary research focus is on biobehavioral interactions in persons with cancer and neurologic conditions. I am particularly interested in the area of neuro-oncology, working with both patients and family caregivers to improve outcomes and health care delivery.
Dr. Shiffman's research focuses on tobacco use and nicotine dependence and their development, the nicotine withdrawal syndrome, smoking relapse, behavioral and pharmacological treatment for smoking, and tobacco control. Dr. Shiffman is currently conducting two trials, both focused on non-daily smokers,…
My research focuses on the intersection of media and health, with a particular interest in investigating how we can use media and technology in ways that promote health. My work has examined the association between social media use and mental…
My research interest including designing and testing novel psychosocial and behavioral interventions, including stepped collaborative care interventions, to improve quality of life in those with chronic medical conditions, psychoneuroimmunology, and caregiving.
My current cancer-related research focuses on caregivers or people with advanced cancer, stress response, cancer outcomes and symptom science. I have a currently funded study of LGBT+ Cancer caregivers.
Lauren Terhorst is a professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy with secondary appointments in the School of Nursing and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute. She is also the co-director of the SHRS Data Center. Her primary area of…
Dr. Tersak is board-certified in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. She provides care for pediatric oncology patients and long term survivors of childhood cancer. She is extensively involved in clinical research including the evaluation and treatment of patients with new diagnosis and research…
Dr. Thomas is a leader in promoting self-advocacy among patients with cancer. She has developed a model and measure of how patients advocate for their needs and priorities within the context of their cancer experience – the Self-Advocacy in Cancer…
My research interests focus on studying the relationship between environmental hazards and cancer, examining whether socio-cultural, biological, and behavioral determinants may mediate or moderate these relationships. I use a broad toolkit of research methods, including quantitative and qualitative methods, geographic…
Dr. van Londen is an ABIM-certified medical oncologist and geriatrician whose research interests focus on a wide variety of topics relevant to cancer survivorship via multiple collaborations. However, her primary research focus relates to the assessment and management of adverse…
The focus of my research is the genetics of postoperative symptoms. Specifically, I am studying the association of several genes and postoperative and post-discharge nausea and vomiting in women following surgery for breast and ovarian cancer. We would like to…
I am a medical oncologist specializing in genitourinary cancers. My research interests are in symptom management and quality of life for patients with genitourinary cancers, particularly for patients with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy.
