Research Summary

I am an internationally recognized expert in pain and symptom management research. A portion of my program of research focuses on the identification of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics that place patients at highest risk for the development of the most deleterious symptoms that occur as a result of cancer and its treatment. More recently, my work is focused on an evaluation of differences in the co-occurrence of multiple symptoms in younger versus older oncology patients.

Research Funding

  • September 30, 2021 - May 31, 2025 - Characteristics and impact of chronic pain and pain management in older adults , Co-Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01AG064947
  • July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2022 - Biobehavioral Research Training in Symptom Science , Co-Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: T32NR016920
  • September 1, 2017 - August 31, 2021 - Impact of Hearing Loss and Tinnitus in Cancer Survivors , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA212064
  • July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2021 - Biomarker and Phenotypic Risk Factors for Breast Cancer Lymphedema , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA187160
  • August 6, 2013 - July 31, 2019 - Advancing the Science of Symptom Management in Oncology Patients , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: K05CA168960
  • September 9, 2011 - August 31, 2017 - Characterization of and Treatment for Chemotherapy Neuropathy , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA151692
  • July 22, 2009 - May 31, 2016 - Symptoms Clusters in Oncology Patients Receiving Chemotherapy , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA134900
  • September 27, 2006 - July 31, 2013 - Improving Cancer Pain Management Through Self-Care , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA116423
  • September 25, 2009 - July 31, 2012 - Symptom Management Faculty Scholars Program , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: P30NR011934
  • September 1, 2006 - July 31, 2011 - Long-term Arm Morbidity Following Breast Cancer Treatment , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA118658
  • September 11, 2007 - May 31, 2010 - Symptom Clusters in Pediatric Oncology Patients , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R21NR010600
  • September 1, 2003 - June 30, 2009 - Symptom Management After Breast Cancer Surgery , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA107091
  • December 1, 1974 - March 31, 2009 - General Clinical Research Center , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: M01RR000079
  • October 1, 1974 - November 30, 2007 - General Clinical Research Center , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: M01RR000083
  • December 1, 1981 - March 31, 2007 - PEDIATRIC CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: M01RR001271
  • September 30, 1999 - December 31, 2004 - FATIGUE, PAIN, AND SLEEP PROBLEMS DURING RADIATION , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01NR004835
  • February 15, 1996 - December 31, 2001 - SELF CARE INTERVENTION TO CONTROL CANCER PAIN , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA064734
  • September 1, 1992 - August 31, 1995 - CANCER PAIN EDUCATION FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R25CA057934

Education

Molloy College, Rockville Center, NY, BSN, 1974, Nursing
Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, MS, 1979, Nursing
St. Johns University, Jamaica, NY, MS, 1984, Biology
St. Johns University, Jamaica, NY, PhD, 1987, Physiology
University of California, San Francisco, Postdoc, 1988-90, Pain Management

Honors & Awards

  • 2000
    Distinguished Nurse Researcher, Oncology Nursing Society
  • 2000
    Helen Nahm Research Lecturer, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco
  • 2000
    Wilbert Fordyce Clinical Investigator Award, American Pain Society
  • 2002
    Distinguished Merit Award, International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care
  • 2005
    Distinguished Service Award, American Pain Society
  • 2006
    Distinguished Researcher Award, Western Institute of Nursing Research

Selected Publications

  1. Kim JA, Block A, Mark S, Cooper BA, Paul SM, Cartwright F, Hammer MJ, Conley YP, Levine JD, Miaskowski C Poorer Quality of Life Outcomes Are Associated with Higher Levels of Stress, Lower Levels of Resilience, and Poorer Adjustment to Cancer in Outpatients Receiving Chemotherapy.  View on PubMed
  2. Colomer-Lahiguera S, Pozzar RA, Harris CS, Brant JM, Conley YP, Cooley ME, Eicher M, Hinds PS, Howell D, Mitchell SA, Ribi K, Rosenzweig MQ, Wesmiller SW, Miaskowski C, Hammer MJ Advancing Global Cancer Symptom Science: Insights and Strategies From the Inaugural Cancer Symptom Science Expert Meeting.  View on PubMed
  3. Colomer-Lahiguera S, Pozzar RA, Harris CS, Brant JM, Conley YP, Cooley ME, Eicher M, Hinds PS, Howell D, Mitchell SA, Ribi K, Rosenzweig MQ, Wesmiller SW, Miaskowski C, Hammer MJ Advancing Global Cancer Symptom Science: Insights and Strategies From the Inaugural Cancer Symptom Science Expert Meeting.  View on PubMed
  4. Colomer-Lahiguera S, Pozzar RA, Harris CS, Brant JM, Conley YP, Cooley ME, Eicher M, Hinds PS, Howell D, Mitchell SA, Ribi K, Rosenzweig MQ, Wesmiller SW, Miaskowski C, Hammer MJ Advancing Global Cancer Symptom Science: Insights and Strategies from the Inaugural Cancer Symptom Science Expert Meeting.  View on PubMed
  5. Le C, Lewis M, Harris CS, Berger L, Chavez-Iglesias E, Morse L, Sucher A, Roy R, Olshen A, Hammer MJ, Paul S, Wallhagen M, Chan R, Sayer M, Yom S, Cho NW, Chan A, Levine J, Dhruva A, Miaskowski C, Conley YP, Kober KM A Data-Driven Epigenetic Characterization of Morning Fatigue Severity in Oncology Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: Associations With Epigenetic Age Acceleration, Blood Cell Types, and Expression-Associated Methylation.  View on PubMed
  6. Miaskowski C History Has Its Eyes on Us.  View on PubMed
  7. Colomer-Lahiguera S, Pozzar RA, Harris CS, Brant JM, Conley YP, Cooley ME, Eicher M, Hinds PS, Howell D, Mitchell SA, Ribi K, Rosenzweig MQ, Wesmiller SW, Miaskowski C, Hammer MJ Advancing Global Cancer Symptom Science: Insights and Strategies From the Inaugural Cancer Symptom Science Expert Meeting.  View on PubMed
  8. Miaskowski C, Colomer-Lahiguera S, Conley YP, Dorsey S, Hammer MJ, Harris C, Ng MSN, Pelter M, Redeker N, Wesmiller S State of the "Art" in Precision Health Symptom Science Research.  View on PubMed
  9. Alfaro E, Ejercito R, Canote M, Cosgrove T, Hawker JJ, Quinn M, Miaskowski C Number of Intravenous Insertions Per Week Does Not Influence Infusion Nurses' Ratings of Risk Factors for Difficult Intravenous Access (DIVA).  View on PubMed
  10. Hammer MJ, Conley YP, Henderson WA, Lukkahatai N, Miaskowski C, Starkweather A, Wesmiller SW Breaking the code: Using the Precision Health Model to guide research and clinical care.  View on PubMed
  11. Anguera JA, Snowberg K, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Oppegaard K, Harris C, Miaskowski C. A pilot study of a targeted cognitive intervention for cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer. 2025 Mar 07; 33(4):255.  View on PubMed
  12. Chan RJ, Walker A, Vardy J, Chan A, Oppegaard K, Conley YP, Paul SM, Kober KM, Harris C, Shin J, Morse L, Roy R, Olshen A, Hammer MJ, Levine JD, Miaskowski C. Perturbations in the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and renin angiotensin system pathways are associated with cancer-related cognitive impairment. Support Care Cancer. 2025 Mar 06; 33(4):254.  View on PubMed
  13. Alfaro E, Canote M, Cosgrove T, Ejercito R, Hawker JJ, Quinn M, Miaskowski C Infusion unit nurses' ratings of risk factors for difficult intravenous access (DIVA) differ based on patients' type of cancer.  View on PubMed
  14. Ayangba Asakitogum D, Nutor JJ, Hammer MJ, Pozzar RA, Cooper BA, Paul SM, Conley YP, Levine JD, Miaskowski C Distinct Morning and Evening Fatigue Profiles in Patients With Gynecologic Cancers Receiving Chemotherapy.  View on PubMed
  15. Calvo-Schimmel A, Hammer MJ, Conley YP, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Shin J, Harris C, Morse L, Levine JD, Miaskowski C. Greater Symptom Burden and Poorer Quality of Life Outcomes Are Associated With The Co-Occurrence of Anxiety and Depression During Cancer Chemotherapy. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2025 Apr; 41(2):151809.  View on PubMed
  16. Harris C, Hammer MJ, Conley YP, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Shin J, Oppegaard K, Morse L, Levine JD, Miaskowski C. Impact of Multimorbidity on Symptom Burden and Symptom Clusters in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy. Cancer Med. 2025 Feb; 14(3):e70418.  View on PubMed
  17. Colomer-Lahiguera S, Pozzar RA, Harris CS, Brant JM, Conley YP, Cooley ME, Eicher M, Hinds PS, Howell D, Mitchell SA, Ribi K, Rosenzweig MQ, Wesmiller SW, Miaskowski C, Hammer MJ Advancing global cancer symptom science: Insights and strategies from the inaugural Cancer Symptom Science Expert Meeting.  View on PubMed
  18. Allaire L, Block A, Paul SM, Hammer MJ, Conley YP, Cooper BA, Levine JD, Miaskowski C. Unrelieved Stress, Decreased Resilience, and Disengagement Coping Strategies Are Associated With Lower Levels of Hope in Patients With Cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2024 Dec 12; 52(1):23-40.  View on PubMed
  19. McCann L, Lewis L, Oduntan O, Harris J, Darley A, Berg GV, Lubowitzki S, Cheevers K, Miller M, Armes J, Ream E, Fox P, Furlong EP, Gaiger A, Kotronoulas G, Patiraki E, Katsaragakis S, McCrone P, Miaskowski C, Cardone A, Orr D, Flowerday A, Skene S, Moore M, De Souza N, Donnan P, Maguire R. Patients' and Clinicians' Experiences Using a Real-Time Remote Monitoring System for Chemotherapy Symptom Management (ASyMS): Qualitative Study. J Med Internet Res. 2024 Dec 03; 26:e53834.  View on PubMed
  20. Asakitogum DA, Nutor JJ, Hammer MJ, Pozzar R, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Conley YP, Levine J, Miaskowski C. Decrements in Morning and Evening Energy Are Associated With a Higher Symptom Burden in Patients With Gynecologic Cancers Receiving Chemotherapy. Cancer Nurs. 2024 Nov 06.  View on PubMed

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