Completed Research

PIs: Yael Schenker
Funding Source: NIH/NCI - 5R01CA197103
Dates: 2016-2023
Description: Data from this cluster randomized trial of an oncology nurse-led primary palliative care intervention, which enrolled 672 patients with advanced solid-tumor cancers and their 441 caregivers across 17 UPMC community oncology practices, is currently being analysed.
Related Studies: N/A
Publications:
Primary Palliative Care Improves Uptake of Advance Care Planning Among Patients With Advanced Cancers 
Effect of an Oncology Nurse–Led Primary Palliative Care Intervention on Patients With Advanced Cancer 
A Cluster Randomized Trial of a Primary Palliative Care Intervention (CONNECT) for Patients with Advanced Cancer: Protocol and Key Design Considerations

PI: Margaret Rosenzweig 
Funding Source: NIH/NIMHD - 5R01MD012245
Dates: 2017-2023
Description: Dr. Margaret Rosenzweig's Symptom Experience, Management, Outcomes According to Race Study (SEMOARS) compared the symptom incidence and distress, symptom reporting methods and outcomes, including the ability to receive full dose of prescribed chemotherapy between Black and White women as they proceeded through chemotherapy.
Related Studies: N/A
Publications: 
Symptom Experience, Management, and Outcomes According to Race and Social Determinants Including Genomics, Epigenomics, and Metabolomics (SEMOARS + GEM): an Explanatory Model for Breast Cancer Treatment Disparity
Protocol for Symptom Experience, Management, Outcomes, and Adherence in Women Receiving Breast Cancer Chemotherapy.
Exploring Racial Differences in Patient Centeredness of Care (PCC) During Breast Cancer (BC) Chemotherapy Clinical Visits.
The attitudes, communication, treatment, and support intervention to reduce breast cancer treatment disparity Beliefs in Chemotherapy and Knowledge of Cancer and Treatment Among African American Women With Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer
The effect of delays in treatment for breast cancer metastasis on survival

PI: Margaret Rosenzweig 
Funding Source: Genentech
Dates: 2020-2022
Description: Dr. Rosenzweig led this longitudinal, descriptive study which measures deep baseline phenotype including lifetime stress and racism, allostatic load, and stress cytokines against outcomes of symptom experience, management, and dose intensity according to race, income, and geography in advanced-stage lung cancer.
Related Studies: Exploring Allostasis, Cellular Aging, and Cancer Outcomes (Allegiant) Study
Publications: N/A

PIs: Robert Arnold, Yael Schenker
Funding Source: McElhattan Foundation
Dates: 2020-2025
Description: Pal-TEACH was a project designed to expand access to palliative care in rural Western Pennsylvania through innovative telehealth interventions. By leveraging technology, the initiative aimed to bridge gaps in care and ensure that patients in remote areas received the support they need, underscoring a broader commitment to improving healthcare accessibility for underserved communities.
Related Studies: N/A
Publications: Expanding Access to Palliative Care via Telehealth: Lessons Learned and Key Considerations

PI: Justin Yu
Funding Source: National Palliative Research Center (NPCRC), Kornfeld Scholars Program Award
Dates: 2020-2022
Description: In this pilot study, Dr. Yu used qualitative and human-centered design methodology to develop a behavioral intervention that improves children with medical complexity (CMC) caregivers’ ability to cope with stress. The study characterized the experiences of caregivers of CMC in coping with stress, and in order to develop and refine a behavioral intervention to improve CMC caregivers’ coping. This project advances understanding of CMC caregivers’ unique experiences and produced one of the first behavioral interventions designed for caregivers of CMC.
Related Studies: Using PROMIS Measures to Characterize the Emotional Well-Being of Family Caregivers of Children with Medical Complexity
Publications: N/A

PI: Margaret Rosenzweig 
Funding Source: University of Pittsburgh CTSI Pitt PiNCH Award
Dates: 2021-2024
Description: Dr. Rosenzweig and her team led the piloting of a novel program based on a non-medical doula model of care to extend and reimagine supportive care for Black individuals living with advanced cancer. Components of the DOULAS-AC program that are not currently offered through available resources include ongoing emotional and practical support during active and palliative treatment, documenting legacy, and following bereaved family members.
Related Studies: Ubuntu Pittsburgh Project
Publications: N/A

PI: Carissa Low
Funding Source: NIH/NCI - 5K07CA204380
Dates: 2016-2021
Description: Building on her background in clinical psychology and psychoneuroimmunology, Dr. Low’s goals for this project were to develop scalable behavioral interventions for patients undergoing potentially curative cancer surgery and to examine the effects of these behavioral interventions on clinical outcomes and biobehavioral mechanisms.
Related Studies: A Mobile Sensing System to Monitor Symptoms During Chemotherapy
Publications: 
A Real-Time Mobile Intervention to Reduce Sedentary Behavior Before and After Cancer Surgery: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
A Real-Time Mobile Intervention to Reduce Sedentary Behavior Before and After Cancer Surgery: Usability and Feasibility Study

PI: Carissa Low
Funding Source: NIH/NCI - 5R37CA242545
Dates: 2019-2024
Description: Symptoms during cancer treatment are common, compromise patient quality of life and ability to tolerate treatment, and often go undetected at clinic visits. Led by Dr. Carissa Low, this project combines smartphone and wearable sensor data with machine learning to remotely monitor symptoms during chemotherapy and to develop a system that automatically recommends patient-provider contact when severe symptoms are detected. Supplemental work aims to identify patient- and provider-perceived barriers, benefits, and preferences related to how mobile sensor tools and data could be used to support patient-provider communication during chemotherapy and how to best support patient and provider use of these digital tools. Findings will address a gap in the literature about how wearable devices and other passive sensors might impact patient-provider communication and will inform future work integrating mobile sensing into clinical cancer care.
Related Studies: Extension: A Mobile Sensing System to Monitor Symptoms During Chemotherapy
Publications: 
Consumer Wearable Device Measures of Gait Cadence and Activity Fragmentation as Predictors of Survival Among Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
Daily Patient-Reported Symptoms as Predictors of Unplanned Healthcare Encounters during Chemotherapy: Longitudinal Observational Study
Design and Use of Patient-Facing Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes and Sensor Data Visualizations During Outpatient Chemotherapy
Associations between Performance-based and Patient-reported Physical Functioning and Real-world Mobile Sensor Metrics in Older Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study
Engagement With Daily Symptom Reporting, Passive Smartphone Sensing, and Wearable Device Data Collection During Chemotherapy: Longitudinal Observational Study

Full Title: Exploring Biological Pathways Associated with Symptoms and Adherence to Oral Anticancer Medications among Patients with Multiple Myeloma
PI: Sarah Belcher
Funding Source: Center for Research and Education, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, 
Pilot/Feasibility Study Program
Dates: 2023
Description: This pilot study expanded upon the existing infrastructure of Dr. Belcher’s career development award (K23NR019296) to explore biological pathways associated with symptoms and adherence to oral anticancer medications among patients with multiple myeloma.
Related Studies: N/A
Publications: Understanding Oral Anticancer Medication Adherence among Patients with Multiple Myeloma

PI: Carissa Low
Funding Source: The Pittsburgh Pepper Center
Dates: 2022-2023
Description: Dr. Carissa Low’s project examined the association between continuous mobile sensor data features and commonly used measures of physical function in cancer survivors aged 65 and older.
Related Studies: N/A
Publications: ​​​​​​​N/A

PI: Margaret Rosenzweig
Funding Source: Chancellor's Seed Grant
Dates: 2018-2022
Description: This study brings multiple community agencies together to develop a grassroots effort to support breast cancer education and referral for diagnosis, treatment, and support in Braddock, McKeesport, and the Hill District areas of Pittsburgh.
Related Studies: N/A
Publications: N/A

PI: Carissa Low
Funding Source: University of Pittsburgh CTSI
Dates: 2024-2025
Description: The aims of Dr. Carissa Low's CTSI Engage pilot project are to (1) adapt behavioral activation to help patients living with advanced cancer to optimize their daily quality of life, to be delivered primarily via smartphone, and to incorporate personalized, data-driven feedback and objective activity monitoring, and (2) examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of this adapted intervention in a single-arm trial of patients receiving treatment for Stage IV cancer.​​​​​​​
Related Studies: N/A
Publications: N/A