Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program (CORE)

Overview

The Cancer Outcomes Research and Program (CORE) is a unique, collaborative research team with members from oncology, nursing, palliative care, psychiatry, and psychology. CORE's breadth of experience as investigators and clinicians enables the team to integrate multiple perspectives into a transdisciplinary research platform.

Mission Statement

We conduct innovative research and educational programs to improve the experience and outcomes of patients and caregivers across the continuum of cancer care.

Our objectives are to:

1. Increase health behaviors that reduce cancer risk and incidence.
2. Improve care delivery, symptoms, and quality of life for patients and caregivers throughout their illness.
3. Enhance the physical and psychosocial experience of cancer survivors.

By advancing the science of cancer care, we will ensure that all individuals affected by cancer receive the highest quality, state-of-the-art care that is personalized to their physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs.

Program Areas

• Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Health Outcomes
• Behavioral Health and Self-Care
• Cancer Prevention and Screening
• Caregiving
• Care Transitions and End-of-Life Care
• Communication and Decision-Making
• Digital Health
• Health Disparities and Inequities
• Palliative and Geriatric Care
• Survivorship
• Symptom Monitoring and Management
• Training and Mentoring in Oncology Research

Education & Training

CORE faculty, in collaboration with researchers and educators at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, host multiple training workshops for junior investigators from around the world:

• Workshop on Research Methods in Supportive Oncology is a week-long intensive workshop for early-career investigators in supportive oncology research. This annual workshop provides an overview of fundamental methods in protocol development, such as study designs, qualitative and survey methods, and approaches to data analysis. For more information and to apply, please refer to: https://pallcare.hms.harvard.edu/courses/rmso
• Academic Career Skills for Junior Faculty: Leadership, Collaboration and Resilience is a three-day workshop to support junior faculty, who are funded by the National Cancer Institute, in maintaining long-term productivity in their research careers. The workshop focuses on enhancing skills in leadership, mentoring, and collaborating as well as managing the social and emotional challenges of a research career. For more information and to apply, please refer to: https://nasdc.osu.edu/public/welcome

News & Announcements

Dr. Yang was awarded with a 2021 Dean’s Community Service Award from Harvard Medical School

Chi-Fu Jeffrey Yang, MD has received a 2021 Dean’s Community Service Award from Harvard Medical School for his work with American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative. This award recognizes individuals whose dedication and commitment to community service have made a positive impact on the local, national or international community. Congratulations, Jeff!

Dr. Johnson received a Lymphoma Scientific Mentoring Program Award from the Lymphoma Research Foundation

P. Connor Johnson, MD has received a Lymphoma Scientific Mentoring Program Award from the Lymphoma Research Foundation. This award provides hematology and oncology fellows and junior faculty a unique experience to learn how to build a successful lymphoma research career. Program participants, known as LRF Scholars, attend a week-long intensive workshop to learn and network with members of LRF’s SAB and gain the skills needed to design and administer research studies, apply for future grant funding, and establish themselves as independent researchers. Congrats, Connor!

Dr. Jacobs was awarded the 2021 Claflin Distinguished Scholar Award from Massachusetts General Hospital

Jamie Jacobs, PhD has been selected as one of eight junior faculty women to receive the 2021 Claflin Distinguished Scholar Award, which is managed by the Executive Committee on Research and the Office for Women's Careers. The intent of this award is to increase opportunities for women to advance to senior positions in academic medicine. Congrats, Jamie!

Dr. Park presented with The Ruth McCorkle Research Mentorship Award and promoted to full Professor at Harvard Medical School

Elyse Park, PhD was awarded The Ruth McCorkle Research Mentorship Award by the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS). The Ruth McCorkle Research Mentorship Award honors an APOS or community member who has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to making a significant positive impact on their mentees’ education and career, nurturing intellectual growth, career development, professional guidance, and positive role-modeling in the field of psychosocial oncology. Further, she was recently promoted to Professor at Harvard Medical School. Congratulations, Dr. Park!

Dr. Dhawale awarded 2021 MGH American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant

Tejaswini More Dhawale, MD, was awarded a 2021 MGH American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant for her proposal Communication about Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) Therapy: Patients’ and Caregivers’ Understanding of Their Treatment Risks and Benefits. Her mentor for the project is Areej El-Jawahri, MD, Associate Director of CORE. Congratulations, Tejaswini!

Dr. Temel was elected to the Association of American Physicians

Jennifer Temel, MD, Co-Director of CORE, was elected to the Association of American Physicians (AAP). The AAP is composed of members who are leading senior physician scientists and are competitively selected. The goals of its members include the pursuit of medical knowledge, and the advancement through experimentation and discovery of basic and clinical science and their application to clinical medicine. Congratulations, Jennifer!

Dr. Perez awarded the Eleanor and Miles Shore Family Award from Harvard Medical School

Giselle K. Perez, PhD, senior scientist in the Health Policy Research Center at the Mongan Institute and director of the Adolescent and Young Adult Research within the Mass General Cancer Center Survivorship Program, has received the Eleanor and Miles Shore Family Award from Harvard Medical School. The award helps junior faculty, at the point in their careers when they must teach, conduct research, compete for grants, publish or practice at the same time they may be assuming increased family or other responsibilities.

Amy Corveleyn, MSW, LICSW Selected to Serve on the Oncology Social Work CORE Advisory Committee for Nationwide Initiative at the University of Michigan School of Social Work

Amy Corveleyn, MSW, LICSW, has been selected to serve on the Oncology Social Work CORE (Competencies, Opportunities, Roles and Expectations) advisory committee for a nationwide initiative at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, in collaboration with the Association of Oncology Social Work. The committee will conduct a survey of oncology social workers to better define the profession. Findings from the survey will be used to distinguish the role of oncology social work in cancer care, develop education and training initiatives, and advocate for data-driven staffing standards for social work and psychosocial care service delivery.

Dr. Temel received the American Cancer Society Research Professorship

Co-Director of CORE, Jennifer Temel, MD, was one of four cancer investigators to receive the American Cancer Society Research Professorship, the most prestigious research grant made by the American Cancer Society Extramural Grants program. Researchers are selected for the professorship based on their history of pioneering, influential work that’s continuing to change the direction of cancer research and on their track record of mentoring people who have become successful in cancer research. This professorship is a lifelong designation, and the grant provides 5 years of funding and may be renewed once. This is also the second time in the history of the American Cancer Society that this award has ever been given to a supportive care researcher. We are so proud of all your work, Jennifer. Congratulations!

Dr. Amonoo awarded the 2020 Harold Amos Faculty Diversity Award

Hermioni Amonoo, MD, MPP, was awarded the Harold Amos Diversity Award from Harvard Medical School during a virtual ceremony on June 9, 2020. The Harold Amos Diversity Award has been established to recognize Harvard Medical School/ Harvard School of Dental Medicine faculty who have made significant achievements in moving Harvard Medical School/Harvard School of Dental Medicine toward being a diverse and inclusive community. Awardees have demonstrated a significant commitment to enhancing diversity above and beyond the routine role and responsibilities.

Dr. Greer presented with The Ruth McCorkle Research Mentorship Award

Co-Director of CORE, Joe Greer, PhD, FAPOS, was awarded The Ruth McCorkle Research Mentorship Award by the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) during their 17th Annual Meeting that was conducted virtually March 11-13, 2020. The Ruth McCorkle Research Mentorship Award honors an APOS or community member who has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to making a significant positive impact on their mentees’ education and career, nurturing intellectual growth, career development, professional guidance, and positive role-modeling in the field of psychosocial oncology. Congratulations, Joe!

Dr. Jacobs received The American Psychosocial Oncology Society’s New Investigator Award

Jamie Jacobs, PhD, was awarded the New Investigator Award by the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) during their 17th Annual Meeting that was conducted virtually March 11-13, 2020. The New Investigator Award is presented for outstanding research contributions in psychosocial oncology. Congratulations, Jamie!