Cancer Prevention & Control (CPC) Research Program

Risk reduction, early detection, survivorship, and symptom science

The long-term goal of the Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC) research program at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center is to reduce the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of cancer and eliminate inequities contributing to the cancer burden in Indiana and beyond.

Program Members Research Highlights

Theme 1: Risk reduction, early detection

Aim 1

Identify genetic, biological, social, and behavioral risk factors for the development of major cancers affecting the people of Indiana.

Aim 2

Develop and evaluate innovative models and interventions to reduce cancer risk, improve screening, and increase early detection of cancers.

Theme 2: Survivorship, symptom science

Aim 3

Identify genetic, biological, social, and pharmacogenomic risk factors associated with cancer symptoms and treatment-related toxicities.

Aim 4

Develop and test interventions to reduce treatment-related symptoms and enhance survivorship for cancer patients and their families.

Team Science: Eric Walsh-Buhi, PhD

Research focuses on using innovative technologies (e.g., Internet, mobile devices [or mHealth]) in health communication and the promotion of health behavior change (called digital health) and improving the health of young people.
IU School of Medicine Department chair awarded more than $500k to study skin cancer prevention via social media

Meet Dr. Walsh-Buhi

Target: Vaccine hesitancy

Monica Kasting, PhD, studies ways to improve preventive health behaviors. She does this primarily through exploring vaccine uptake and hesitancy for human papillomavirus and COVID-19. She also explores ways to increase hepatitis C virus screening in primary care. She has worked extensively to improve healthcare in underserved rural settings, mainly by using community paramedics as trusted messengers to combat vaccine hesitancy and provide healthcare in areas that don’t have easy access to a hospital.

Publications

Target: Cognitive dysfunction after chemotherapy

Cancer survivors call it “chemobrain”—continued difficulty in learning new tasks, remembering words or doing things as efficiently or quickly as they once did.

In collaboration with a colleague at the University of Pittsburgh, CPC researcher Brenna McDonald, PsyD, recently received a $3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to study this frustrating phenomenon.

During a Simon Says Expert Series webinar, Dr. McDonald discussed how her research seeks to help survivors identify their challenges and apply strategies to mitigate memory problems.

News Release Meet Dr. McDonald