Fatigue Study Group Awards

Award Recipient: Sriram Yennu, MD, MS

Dr Sriram Yennu, MD, MS, FAAHPM is a Tenured Professor in the Department of Palliative Care, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is an established physician, researcher, and educator. His research interests include symptom research, geriatric oncology, understanding advanced cancer patients’ decision-making preferences, and perceptions in regards to disease and treatment. His research has been focused on developing therapeutic interventions for debilitating symptoms in advanced cancer patients including fatigue, sleep disturbances, pain, and cachexia. He has been a principal investigator of several randomized controlled trials, supported by research grants from various organizations including the National Institute of Health and American Cancer Society. He has more than 140 peer-reviewed and invited publications. His pivotal work was published in various journals including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and Cancer. He was also awarded the AAHPM Young Investigator Award in 2013 and a Fellow of AAHPM in 2017. Dr Yennu has been instrumental in various supportive educational projects including establishing the ECHO palliative care in Africa. Since 2005, he has served as the Chair of the Annual Intensive Board Review Course in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the Interdisciplinary Conference on Supportive Care, Hospice and Palliative Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is currently the chair of the Geriatric Oncology Study Group at MASCC.

Award recipient: Silvia Belloni, RN, MSc, PhD(s)

Abstract: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews and Pooled Meta-Analysis on Pharmacological Interventions to Improve Cancer-Related Fatigue

Award recipient: Gina Wong

Abstract: Patient-Reported Fatigue in Adjuvant Breast Radiotherapy

Award recipient: Karen Mustian, MD

Dr Karen Mustian is an energetic, passionate, world-traveling yogi, scuba diver, foodie and world-renowned scientist, who spends her life working to help good people through lousy times when they encounter cancer!

Dr Mustian is an international leader in the fields of Cancer Control and Survivorship, Behavioral Oncology, Exercise Oncology, Geriatric Oncology, and Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Health. Dr Mustian is Co-Director of the Wilmot Cancer Institute Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program, Co-Director and MPI of the University of Rochester Cancer Center (URCC) NCORP Research Base, Director of the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) PEAK Human Performance Clinical Research Laboratory, and a tenured Dean’s Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Surgery, Radiation Oncology, and Public Health Sciences. She is also a Faculty Associate for the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at the University of Rochester.

Nationally, Dr Mustian is a new incoming federally appointed member of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Board of Scientific Advisors, a member of the NCI Symptom Management and Quality of Life Steering Committee and Cardiotoxicity Task Force. She is Chair of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Fatigue Treatment Guidelines, and a member of the ASCO Evaluation & Management of Vulnerabilities in Older Patients Treatment Guidelines and Integrative Medicine in Oncology Treatment Guidelines Panels. Internationally, Dr Mustian also serves as Chair of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) International Cancer-Related Fatigue Treatment Guidelines Committee.

Dr Mustian is a leader in conducting large, multi-center, phase III clinical trials testing exercise and behavioral interventions among cancer patients and survivors with over 19 years of experience at the University of Rochester Wilmot Cancer Institute. Dr. Mustian’s research is in the area of cancer control and survivorship with primary foci on investigating the influence of exercise (i.e., exercise, yoga, tai chi) on symptoms and side effects (acute, chronic and late) stemming from cancer and its treatments. Dr Mustian is the PI for several local and nationwide randomized clinical trials funded by the NCI, NCCAM, OCCAM, NINR and DOD. Dr Mustian has acquired over $80 million in research funding and authored over 150 articles and book chapters in the field of exercise and cancer control. Dr Mustian has been recognized for her excellence in research and leadership with more than 43 awards nationally and globally.

Award recipient: Jérôme Desrame, MD (France)

Abstract: The CIROCO Study: Evaluating the Correlation between Fatigue and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients Treated with Biosimilar Epoetin Alfa for Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia

Award recipient: Anna-Maria Platschek, PhD (Germany)

Abstract: Effects of Exercise on Cancer-Related Fatigue in Pediatric Oncology: A Comparison of an Inpatient Program at the Beginning and in the Middle of Cancer Therapy

Award recipient: Debra L. Barton, PhD, FAAN, RN (USA)

Debra L. Barton was named this year’s Distinguished Scientific Laureate in recognition of her distinguished academic and research career focusing on cancer symptom management, including cancer-related fatigue. Debra is a Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Rackham Graduate Studies at the University of Michigan’s School of Nursing. Her program of research evolved from her involvement and leadership in the Cancer Clinical Trials Network (CCTN) over the past 11 years. As Principal Investigator or co-PI, she has led 15 large Phase III randomized clinical trials in oncology symptom management, and 7 Phase II trials. She has received numerous grants to implement translational aims to explore mechanisms of action and symptom physiology in research focusing on cancer-related fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, sleep, nausea and vomiting, hot flashes, libido, vaginal atrophy, peripheral neuropathy. Debra has served as a member of MASCC’s Board of Directors (2016-2018), a past Vice-Chair of the Fatigue Study Group, and a member of MASCC’s most recent Strategic Planning Committee. She is a member of MASCC’s Study Groups on Fatigue, Psychosocial Issues, and Survivorship.

Award recipient: Julia Inglis, PhD (USA)

Abstract: A Longitudinal Assessment to Evaluate the Impact of Higher Body Mass Index on Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

Award recipient: Carlos Fernandez, MD (USA)

Abstract: Cancer-Related Fatigue: Perception of Effort or Task Failure?

Award recipient: Karin Olson, PhD (Canada)

This year, the Fatigue Study Group honored Karin Olson, PhD, of the University of Alberta, with the award of Distinguished Scientific Laureate for her research career in supportive care and her contributions to MASCC and to the Fatigue Study Group.

Award recipient: Calvin L. Cole, PhD

Abstract: Interrelationship Between Improvements in Aerobic Capacity and Cancer-Related Fatigue in Prostate Cancer Patients.

Award recipient: Brenda O’Connor, MD

Abstract: Cancer-Related Fatigue: The Role of Mobile Technology in Assessment