Organization profile
Organization profile
The Cancer Control research program at Penn State Cancer Institute conducts research and interventions to reduce the incidence and mortality from cancer in Pennsylvania and nationally. The program includes faculty members from 18 departments across five Penn State colleges and/or campuses.
The leading causes of cancer are tobacco use and poor nutrition, and specific cancers are also affected by obesity, alcohol, infectious agents and air pollution. The program seeks to understand and develop approaches to limit the impact of these causes on cancer risk, especially in high-risk individuals and communities, through screening and clinical trials.
For patients, the program conducts innovative clinical trials in areas that may improve cancer treatment outcomes and prevent recurrences, including innovative weight-training programs and screening programs.
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Profiles
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Yubraj Acharya, PhD
- Health Policy and Administration - Associate Professor
- Department of Public Health Sciences - Associate Professor
- Penn State Cancer Institute
- Cancer Institute, Cancer Control
Person: Academic
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Nirmal Ahuja
- School of Behavioral Sciences & Education (Harrisburg) - Assistant Professor of Biobehavioral Health
- Penn State Cancer Institute
- Cancer Institute, Cancer Control
Person: Academic
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Keith Robert Aronson, PhD
- Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI)
- Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) - Associate Director
- Penn State Cancer Institute
- Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness - Associate Director
- Cancer Institute, Cancer Control
Person: Academic
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Sunday Azagba
- Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing - Professor
- Penn State Cancer Institute
- Cancer Institute, Cancer Control
Person: Academic
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Arthur Berg, PhD
- Department of Public Health Sciences - Professor
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
- Department of Surgery - Professor
- Department of Neurosurgery - Professor
- Department of Family and Community Medicine - Professor
- Statistics - Professor
- Penn State Cancer Institute
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences
- Cancer Institute, Cancer Control
Person: Academic
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Seth Bordenstein
- Biology - Professor
- Entomology - Professor
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences - Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Endowed Chair in Microbiome Sciences and Director of the Microbiome Center
- Penn State Cancer Institute
- One Health Microbiome Center
- Cancer Institute, Cancer Control
Person: Academic
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Steven A. Branstetter, PhD
- Biobehavioral Health - Associate Professor
- Penn State Cancer Institute
- Cancer Institute, Cancer Control
Person: Academic
Research output
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Adapting patient priorities care for older adults with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: A qualitative inquiry
Garg, T., Negron-Candelario, S., Miller, H., Demirsoy, S., West, K., Calo, W., Tinetti, M. & Van Scoy, L. J., Apr 2026, In: Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations. 44, 4, 110996.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Aerobic Exercise Training Leads to MASH Resolution as Defined by the MASH Resolution Index
Channapragada, T., Batra, S., Hummer, B. L., Chinchilli, V. M., Huang, D., Loomba, R., Schreibman, I. R. & Stine, J. G., Feb 2026, In: Digestive Diseases and Sciences. 71, 2, p. 628-635 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
A Multilevel Analysis of Social Environmental Factors Related to Substance Use, Tobacco Use, and Binge Drinking Behaviors Among Older Adults
Zhang, X., Linn, B. K. & Moss, J. L., Jan 2026, In: American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 70, 1, 108115.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Applying a process mapping methodology to identify barriers and facilitators to social needs screener and medical-legal partnership integration into primary care facilities
Graham, J. D., Kraschnewski, J. L., Allen, S., Makhlouf, M., Sheriff, N., Llavona-Ortiz, J. & Calo, W. A., Feb 23 2026, In: Journal of Clinical and Translational Science. 10, 1, e52.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
A qualitative study investigating the role of humor in supporting recovery from addiction
Stull, S. W., Wakely, M. E., Saunders, E. C., Jacobson, N. C., Marsch, L. A. & Lanza, S. T., Feb 2026, In: Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment. 181, 209833.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Association between mushroom consumption and digit span performance among middle-aged and older community-dwelling Japanese: the NILS-LSA project
Zhang, S., Ba, D., Nishita, Y., Tange, C., Zhu, J., Otsuka, R. & Muscat, J., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Food and Function.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Associations of Obesity with Function and Patient-Reported Outcomes Among Rural Advanced Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Nurse AMIE Randomized Controlled Trial
Werts-Pelter, S. J., Smith, C., Baker, S., Patterson, C. G., Stout, N., Moss, J., Calo, W. A., Doerksen, S. & Schmitz, K., Jan 2026, In: Cancers. 18, 1, 6.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
A transparent four-feature speech model for depression screening applicable across clinical and community settings, including assisted-living environments
Mekulu, K., Aqlan, F. & Yang, H., 2026, In: Frontiers in Digital Health. 7, 1675103.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Best buys for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: a global Delphi study
Lazarus, J. V., Agirre-Garrido, L., White, T. M., Arora, A. K., Manolas, M. I., Diaz, L. A., Arab, J. P., Zelber-Sagi, S., Alkhouri, N., Spearman, C. W., Schattenberg, J. M., Kondili, L. A., Carrieri, P., Lofton, H. F., Jaisinghani, P., Kumar, S., Duseja, A., El-Kassas, M., Takahasi, H. & Shawcross, D. L. & 5 others, , Mar 2026, In: The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 11, 3, p. 232-242 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
Branchial Cleft Cyst Carcinoma Remains Grossly Over Diagnosed: A Large Database Analysis
Meci, A., Goyal, N. & Goldenberg, D., Feb 2026, In: Laryngoscope. 136, 2, p. 766-772 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
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Collaborative Research: Human-centered AI for Reconfigurable Manufacturing Operation and desigN sYnthesis (HARMONY)
Yang, H. (PI)
10/1/25 → 9/30/28
Project: Research project
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Collaborative Research: III: Small: An Information-Theoretic Framework for Explainable and Explanation-Assisted Graph Learning
Zhang, X. (PI)
10/1/25 → 9/30/28
Project: Research project
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Using a conversation game to engage Native American Washoe tribe members in advance care planning: preparation for a clinical trial
Van Scoy, L. (PI)
National Institute of Nursing Research
9/15/25 → 8/31/28
Project: Research project
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Impact of brief daily functional resistance training on lower extremity physical performance
Sciamanna, C. (PI)
9/1/25 → 8/31/28
Project: Research project
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Collaborative Research: NSF-SNSF: Tail-robust Analysis of High-dimensional Nonstationary Time Series
Li, R. (PI)
9/1/25 → 8/31/28
Project: Research project
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Pennsylvania Colorectal Cancer Alliance to Reduce Mortality and Enhance Screening (PA-CARES)
Randal, F. (PI), Kim, K. (CoI), Hohl, R. (CoI), Ruffin, M. (CoI), Calo, W. (CoI), Maranki, J. (CoI), Felix, T. (CoI), Leibovitz, D. (CoI) & Lozano, P. (CoI)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
8/30/25 → 8/29/30
Project: Research project
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The Penn State Coordinating Center (CC) for the Multi-Sectoral Preventive Interventions (MSPI) Research Network
Chinchilli, V. (PI) & Kraschnewski, J. (CoPI)
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
8/18/25 → 6/30/27
Project: Research project
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Chicago CCFC for the new AsA-NHPI cohort
Aschebrook-Kilfoy, B. (PI) & Kim, K. (CoPI)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
8/1/25 → 7/31/26
Project: Research project
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Cocaine Addition and the Need-State Hypothesis
Grigson-Kennedy, P. (PI) & Kim, Y. (CoI)
5/1/25 → 2/28/30
Project: Research project
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An integrated multiplexed diagnostic assay targeting fusion lipoproteins and cardiolipin for detection of treponemal and nontreponemal antibodies in syphilis patients
Pan, D. D. (PI), van der Pol, B. (CoPI), Rafferty, C. (CoPI) & Pinto, C. (CoPI)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
2/25/25 → 1/31/27
Project: Research project
Activities
- 2 Invited talk
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Craniocervical instability in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a retrospective study
Schubart, J. R. (Invited speaker) & Henderson, F. (Speaker)
Aug 21 2021Activity: Talk types › Invited talk
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Use of prescription opioid and other drugs among a cohort of patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes: A retrospective case control study
Schubart, J. R. (Invited speaker), Schilling, A. (Speaker), Schaefer, E. (Speaker), Bascom, R. (Speaker) & Francomano, C. (Speaker)
Sep 26 2018 → Sep 29 2018Activity: Talk types › Invited talk
Prizes
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Best Doctors in America
Clebak, K. (Recipient), Gallo, R. (Recipient) & Goyal, N. (Recipient), 2019
Prize
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