Electra Paskett PhD, MSPH

Electra Paskett PhD, MSPH

If not for BCRF/PFP support, we would not have been able to obtain NCI-funding for the WHI Cancer Survivor Cohort, a unique resource for studying recurrence and late effects of treatment - surely to benefit all survivors.

Professor, School of Public Health
Division Chair, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control
Marion N. Rowley Designated Chair in Cancer
Department of Medicine
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio

Areas of Focus:  Lifestyle & Prevention and Survivorship

2018-2019 PROJECT

Current Research:

  • Seeking strategies to improve quality of life in breast cancer survivors.
  • Studies are ongoing that examine the role of diet, exercise, medication adherence, and body weight on breast cancer and survivorship.
  • This research will provide valuable insight to inform new preventive strategies and improve quality of life for breast cancer survivors.

There are more than 3.5 million individuals in the U.S. with a history of breast cancer, making up the largest group of cancer survivors. As deaths due to breast cancer decline and more women live past their breast cancer therapy, many face unique challenges due to their diagnosis and/or treatment that can persist for many years. Dr. Paskett is conducting studies to determine the benefits of lifestyle changes to reduce risk of recurrence and collecting data on patient reported outcomes from large prospective studies to inform strategies to improve quality of life after breast cancer.

Full Research Summary:

The Breast Cancer Prevention through Nutrition Program at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center examines the role of diet, exercise, medication adherence, and body weight on breast cancer and survivorship issues in women at high risk for breast cancer. The goal of this program is to test innovative biomedical and behavioral interventions that can be integrated into large-scale, federally funded prevention studies and to examine late effects of treatment among cancer survivors.

Dr. Paskett and colleagues will continue their Cancer Survivor study through collaboration with the larger Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), an NIH-sponsored 15-year study to address the most common causes of death, disability, and impaired quality of life in postmenopausal women.

They will continue to analyze baseline and annual follow-up survey data, collect treatment and outcomes data, store donated tumor blocks, and provide scientific input. They will also expand their survivorship research team and encourage others to utilize the WHI Cancer Survivor Cohort resource to conduct research that could improve the lives of breast cancer survivors.

This research will provide valuable insight to inform new preventive strategies and improve quality of life for breast cancer survivors and has created a unique resource for studying recurrence and late effects.

BIO

Electra Paskett, received her doctorate in epidemiology from the University of Washington and became the Marion N. Rowley Professor of Cancer Research at The Ohio State University in 2002. She is Director of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control in the College of Medicine, professor in the Division of Epidemiology in the College of Public Health and Associate Director for Population Sciences and Program Leader of the Cancer Control Program. She is also Director of the Diversity Enhancement Program at the James Cancer Hospital. Dr. Paskett’s publications showcase her work in intervention research directed at cancer prevention, early detection and survivorship issues specifically among underserved populations. She leads an NCI-funded study examining why rates of cervical cancer are high in Appalachia Ohio and is the Principal Investigator of the Ohio Patient Navigator Research Program. She also received funding from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and has two NIH grants to develop to test interventions to promote colorectal cancer screening. She continues to work with the Women’s Health Initiative studies looking at breast cancer prevention and survivorship as well as cardiovascular health in underserved populations. Dr. Paskett is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, past-President of the American Society of Preventive Oncology, Deputy Editor of the journal Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, and Section Editor of the journal, CANCER. She is a member of the NIH EPIC study section and the chair of the Health Disparities Committee of the Alliance for Cooperative Trials in Oncology.