Research
My research program prioritizes behavioral cancer prevention through interventions to improve sleep and physical activity. Project SHINE and SLEEP-E anchor this work with Black/African American communities. I also study community-informed cancer prevention, biological timing during treatment, and quality of life in survivorship.
Community partnerships → · Publications →
Cancer prevention through sleep and physical activity
Project SHINE (Sleep Health INitiative for Equity) is a community-based pilot randomized controlled trial of a sleep extension intervention for Black/African American adults with short sleep duration and low physical activity. Developed with Black church partners, it evaluates feasibility and participant satisfaction, with secondary measures of sleep and physical activity. Participant enrollment has closed.
Project SHINE website ↗ · Published study protocol ↗
SLEEP-E examined the feasibility of delivering brief sleep and physical activity interventions in alternate sequences among African American adults with overweight or obesity, short sleep duration, and low physical activity. Recruitment has concluded; the pilot trial was published in 2026.
Read the SLEEP-E pilot trial ↗
Cancer prevention with communities
In partnership with Metro Youth Diversion Center, this research uses perspectives from Somali and Oromo adults and community health workers to inform a culturally tailored cancer prevention workshop.
The published protocol describes early workshop development using the ORBIT framework. It focuses on community priorities, training needs, and perceptions of acceptability, relevance, and feasibility.
Workshop-development protocol ↗ · Community partnerships →
Project TIME and cancer immunotherapy
Project TIME (Timing in Immunotherapy Measurement and Evaluation) is a wearable and EHR-linked chronobiology pilot supported by the Halberg Family Chronobiology Research Fund.
The study examines the feasibility of measuring patients’ daily rhythms around immunotherapy and linking those measurements with treatment timing and health-record data. Analyses will characterize biological timing and explore associations with treatment delivery and tolerability. Participants receive treatment according to their clinical care plans.
Read the UMN SPH study announcement ↗
Cancer survivorship and quality of life
I examine financial harm, insurance denial, sleep disturbance, cancer-related fatigue, stigma, social constraints, and quality of life among people affected by cancer.
A cross-sectional analysis of HINTS distinguished self-reported financial harm due to cancer from insurance denial. Related work in the BOLD cohort examined financial toxicity and follow-up quality of life among breast cancer survivors.
HINTS financial harm study ↗ · BOLD cohort study ↗
Cancer-related fatigue and sleep disturbance ↗ · Self-stigma, social constraints, and sleep ↗