I am an epidemiologist and my research focuses on the relations between health behaviors, including nutrition and physical activity, and cancer morbidity and mortality. My goal is to provide evidence for guidelines and interventions to improve cancer survivorship. For example, strong evidence from our work and others suggests health behaviors after diagnosis impact colorectal cancer survival.

In 2018, my team and I reported that health behaviors consistent with the American Cancer Society (ACS) nutrition and physical activity guidelines were associated with ~42% lower risk of mortality in stage III colon cancer patients. These findings underlie the significance of our efforts to develop interventions to help cancer survivors improve their nutrition and physical activity habits.

I am the Principal Investigator of the Tools To Be Fit study, a NCI R01-funded study using the Multiphase Optimization Strategy Framework to identify an optimized intervention to increase physical activity and improve diet in colorectal cancer survivors.

Favorite media binge over the last year? Home Cooking podcast by Samin Nosrat and Hrishikesh Hirway

Social Media

• Twitter: @ErinVanBlarigan