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. Raizen DM, Mullington J, Anaclet C, Clarke G, Critchley H, Dantzer R, Davis R, Drew KL, Fessel J, Fuller PM, Gibson EM, Harrington M, Ian Lipkin W, Klerman EB, Klimas N, Komaroff AL, Koroshetz W, Krupp L, Kuppuswamy A, Lasselin J, Lewis LD, Magistretti PJ, Matos HY, Miaskowski C, Miller AH, Nath A, Nedergaard M, Opp MR, Ritchie MD, Rogulja D, Rolls A, Salamone JD, Saper C, Whittemore V, Wylie G, Younger J, Zee PC, Craig Heller H. Beyond the symptom: the biology of fatigue. Sleep. 2023 Sep 08; 46(9).  View on PubMed
  2. Hun Kwak J, Mackin LA, Block A, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Abbott M, Chang SM, Hammer MJ, Kober KM, Levine JD, Pozzar R, Rhoads KF, Snowberg KE, Tsai KK, Van Blarigan EL, Van Loon K, Miaskowski C. Risk Factors for a Higher Symptom Burden in Patients With Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2023 08 17; 50(5):647-664.  View on PubMed
  3. Johannessen MS, Miaskowski C, Kleven AG, Ritchie CS, Paul SM, Grov EK, Hareide M, Gaudernack H, Utne I. Age-related differences in the occurrence, severity, and distress of symptoms in older patients at the initiation of chemotherapy. BMC Geriatr. 2023 08 09; 23(1):481.  View on PubMed
  4. Ballesteros O, Mark S, Block A, Mackin L, Paul S, Cooper B, Abbott M, Chang S, Hammer MJ, Levine J, Pozzar R, Snowberg K, Tsai K, Van Blarigan E, Van Loon K, Miaskowski CA. COVID-19 pandemic stress and cancer symptom burden. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2023 Aug 04.  View on PubMed
  5. LaRowe LR, Miaskowski C, Miller A, Mayfield A, Keefe FJ, Smith AK, Cooper BA, Wei LJ, Ritchie CS. Chronic Pain and Pain Management in Older Adults: Protocol and Pilot Results. Nurs Res. 2023 Jul 31.  View on PubMed
  6. Gouldthorpe C, Ancoli-Israel S, Cash E, Innominato P, Jakobsen G, Lévi F, Miaskowski C, Parganiha A, Pati AK, Pereira D, Revell V, Zeitzer JM, Davies A. International e-Delphi Consensus Recommendations for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Circadian rest-Activity Rhythm Disorders (CARDs) in Patients with Cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2023 Jul 26; 15(15).  View on PubMed
  7. Shin J, Kober K, Yates P, Wong ML, Cooper BA, Paul SM, Hammer M, Conley Y, Levine JD, Wright F, Miaskowski C. Higher Lifetime Stress and Symptom Burden Contribute to the Occurrence of Shortness of Breath. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2023 10; 39(5):151471.  View on PubMed
  8. Hammer MJ, Cooper BA, Chen LM, Wright AA, Pozzar R, Blank SV, Cohen B, Dunn L, Paul S, Conley YP, Levine JD, Miaskowski C. Identification of distinct symptom profiles in patients with gynecologic cancers using a pre-specified symptom cluster. Support Care Cancer. 2023 Jul 22; 31(8):485.  View on PubMed
  9. Cooke A, Castellanos S, Koenders S, Joshi N, Enriquez C, Olsen P, Miaskowski C, Kushel M, Knight KR. The intersection of drug use discrimination and racial discrimination in the management of chronic non-cancer pain in United States primary care safety-net clinics: Implications for healthcare system and clinic-level changes. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2023 09 01; 250:110893.  View on PubMed
  10. Harris C, Kober KM, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Shin J, Oppegaard K, Morse L, Calvo-Schimmel A, Conley Y, Levine JD, Miaskowski C. Neurotransmitter Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated with Symptom Clusters in Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2023 08; 39(4):151461.  View on PubMed
  11. Xu Z, Lee MC, Sheehan K, Fujii K, Rabl K, Rader G, Varney S, Sharma M, Eilers H, Kober K, Miaskowski C, Levine JD, Schumacher MA. Chemotherapy for pain: reversing inflammatory and neuropathic pain with the anticancer agent mithramycin A. Pain. 2024 Jan 01; 165(1):54-74.  View on PubMed
  12. Kwong YD, Liu KD, Hsu CY, Cooper B, Palevsky PM, Kellum JA, Johansen KL, Miaskowski C. Subgroups of Patients with Distinct Health Utility Profiles after AKI. Kidney360. 2023 07 01; 4(7):881-889.  View on PubMed
  13. Kleven AG, Miaskowski C, Torstveit AH, Ritchie CS, Engh ME, Andersen E, Utne I. Quality of life of older gynecologic oncology patients at the initiation of chemotherapy. Nurs Open. 2023 Oct; 10(10):6749-6757.  View on PubMed
  14. Singh KP, Cooper BA, Tofthagen CS, Fryer JD, Singh P, Pituch K, Zhu Q, Gu H, Hammer MJ, Conley YP, Levine JD, Miaskowski C. Higher Levels of Stress and Neuropsychological Symptoms Are Associated With a High Nausea Profile in Patients With Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2023 Jun 15; 50(4):461-473.  View on PubMed
  15. Davis JK, Mark S, Mackin L, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Conley YP, Hammer MJ, Levine JD, Miaskowski C. Sleep disturbance and decrements in morning energy contribute to a higher symptom burden in oncology patients. Sleep Med. 2023 08; 108:124-136.  View on PubMed
  16. Calvo-Schimmel A, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Harris C, Shin J, Oppegaard K, Hammer MJ, Cartwright F, Conley YP, Kober KM, Levine JD, Miaskowski C. Various types of stress and greater use of disengagement coping are associated with worse sleep disturbance in oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy. Stress Health. 2024 Feb; 40(1):e3279.  View on PubMed
  17. Pozzar RA, Hammer MJ, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Conley YP, Chen LM, Levine JD, Miaskowski C. Associations Between Distinct State Anxiety Profiles, Exposure to Stressful Life Events, Resilience, and Coping in Patients with Gynecologic Cancers Receiving Chemotherapy. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2023 08; 39(4):151431.  View on PubMed
  18. Papachristou N, Kotronoulas G, Dikaios N, Allison SJ, Eleftherochorinou H, Rai T, Kunz H, Barnaghi P, Miaskowski C, Bamidis PD. Digital Transformation of Cancer Care in the Era of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Data-Driven Interventions: Navigating the Field. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2023 Jun; 39(3):151433.  View on PubMed
  19. Sheng Y, Carpenter JS, Paul SM, Conley YP, Levine JD, Miaskowski C. Patients with palpitations experience a higher symptom burden prior to breast cancer surgery. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2023 Aug; 65:102341.  View on PubMed
  20. Oppegaard KR, Mayo SJ, Armstrong TS, Kober KM, Anguera JA, Wright F, Levine JD, Conley YP, Paul S, Cooper B, Miaskowski C. An Evaluation of the Multifactorial Model of Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment. Nurs Res. 2023 Jul-Aug 01; 72(4):272-280.  View on PubMed

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