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. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. Colomer-Lahiguera S, Pozzar RA, Cooper BA, Paul SM, Snowberg K, Kenfield SA, Chang SM, Abbott M, Van Blarigan EL, Levine JD, Eicher M, Hammer MJ, Miaskowski C. Worse Psychological Profiles Are Associated With Higher Levels of Stress and Symptom Burden in Patients With Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2024 Oct 17; 51(6):529-546.  View on PubMed
  7. Bergsneider BH, Armstrong TS, Conley YP, Cooper B, Hammer M, Levine JD, Paul S, Miaskowski C, Celiku O. Symptom Network Analysis and Unsupervised Clustering of Oncology Patients Identifies Drivers of Symptom Burden and Patient Subgroups With Distinct Symptom Patterns. Cancer Med. 2024 Oct; 13(19):e70278.  View on PubMed
  8. Oppegaard KR, Conley YP, Paul S, Cooper B, Harris CS, Shin J, Morse L, Levine JD, Cartwright F, Roy R, Melisko M, Kober KM, Hammer MJ, Miaskowski C. Self-reported cancer-related cognitive impairment is associated with perturbed neurotransmission pathways. J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2025 Feb; 132(2):275-286.  View on PubMed
  9. Shelley A, Mark S, Block A, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Hammer MJ, Conley YP, Levine J, Miaskowski C. Worse Morning Energy Profiles Are Associated with Significant Levels of Stress and Decrements in Resilience in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2024 Oct; 40(5):151718.  View on PubMed
  10. Shin J, Hammer MJ, Paul SM, Conley YP, Harris C, Oppegaard K, Morse L, Cooper BA, Levine JD, Miaskowski C. Associations Between Preoperative Shortness of Breath and Potassium Channels Gene Variations in Women With Breast Cancer. Biol Res Nurs. 2025 Jan; 27(1):81-90.  View on PubMed
  11. Suskin JA, Paul SM, Stuckey AR, Conley YP, Levine JD, Hammer MJ, Miaskowski C, Dunn LB. Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms Among Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy for Breast, Gastrointestinal, Gynecological, or Lung Cancer. Cancer Nurs. 2024 Aug 01.  View on PubMed
  12. LaRowe LR, Miaskowski C, Miller A, Mayfield A, Keefe FJ, Smith AK, Cooper BA, Wei LJ, Ritchie CS. Prevalence and Sociodemographic Correlates of Chronic Pain Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Older Adults in the United States. J Pain. 2024 Oct; 25(10):104614.  View on PubMed
  13. Miller M, McCann L, Lewis L, Miaskowski C, Ream E, Darley A, Harris J, Kotronoulas G, V Berg G, Lubowitzki S, Armes J, Patiraki E, Furlong E, Fox P, Gaiger A, Cardone A, Orr D, Flowerday A, Katsaragakis S, Skene S, Moore M, McCrone P, De Souza N, Donnan PT, Maguire R. Patients' and Clinicians' Perceptions of the Clinical Utility of Predictive Risk Models for Chemotherapy-Related Symptom Management: Qualitative Exploration Using Focus Groups and Interviews. J Med Internet Res. 2024 Jun 20; 26:e49309.  View on PubMed
  14. Davis TS, Koleck TA, Rosenzweig MQ, Miaskowski C, Erickson KI, Sereika SM, Bender CM, Conley YP. Association Between Genes in the Nuclear Factor E2-Related Factor 2 Antioxidative Response Elements Pathway and Cancer-Related Fatigue in Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2024 Jun 14; 51(4):404-416.  View on PubMed
  15. Singh KP, Cooper BA, Paul SM, Ruddy K, Singh AB, Chen J, Pituch KA, Grys TE, Singh P, Batalini F, Hammer MJ, Levine JD, Miaskowski C. Gastrointestinal and Neuropsychological Symptoms Are Associated With Distinct Vomiting Profiles in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2024 Jun 14; 51(4):361-380.  View on PubMed
  16. Shin J, Hammer MJ, Cooley ME, Cooper BA, Paul SM, Conley YP, Kober KM, Levine JD, Miaskowski C. Lower Income, Smoking, Cardiopulmonary Comorbidities, and Higher Symptom Burden Influence the Occurrence of Cough in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2024 Jun 14; 51(4):E4-E24.  View on PubMed
  17. Sheng Y, Conley YP, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Carpenter JS, Hammer MJ, Levine JD, Miaskowski C. Palpitations in Women With Breast Cancer Are Associated With Polymorphisms for Neurotransmitter Genes. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2024 Jun 14; 51(4):332-348.  View on PubMed
  18. Miaskowski C, Conley YP, Levine JD, Cooper BA, Paul SM, Hammer MJ, Oppegaard K, Harris C, Shin J, Abrams G, Asakitogum D, Fu MR, Alismal S. Chronic Decrements in Energy in Women with Breast Cancer are Associated with Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2024 Aug; 40(4):151652.  View on PubMed
  19. Asakitogum DA, Nutor JJ, Pozzar R, Hammer M, Alismail S, Kober KM, Miaskowski C. Multidimensional Model of Energy in Patients With Cancer. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2024 Jun; 40(3):151644.  View on PubMed
  20. Oppegaard KR, Mayo SJ, Armstrong TS, Dokiparthi V, Melisko M, Levine JD, Olshen AB, Anguera JA, Roy R, Paul S, Cooper B, Conley YP, Hammer MJ, Miaskowski C, Kober KM. Neurodegenerative disease pathways are perturbed in patients with cancer who self-report cognitive changes and anxiety: A pathway impact analysis. Cancer. 2024 Aug 15; 130(16):2834-2847.  View on PubMed

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