Research Studies

Below you can read about many of our in-progress and completed  research studies. 

In-Progress Studies

EQUIP-TCM: Employing QUalitative analysis in Understanding InterPersonal mindfulness in a Traditional Chinese Medicine encounter
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore ways in which interpersonal mindfulness and other foundations of healing are manifested during the TCM encounter and how they may affect the practitioner-patient relationship and support health equity and quality of life. 
  • Investigators:   Timothy Chen, Varsha Ganesh, Yashoswini Chakraborty, Arin Budhiraja, Bruriah Horowitz, MEd, Christina Sauer, MS, David Victorson, PhD
  • Funding: 2023 Baker Undergraduate Research Grant
Heightened Connections to Community, Culture, Spirituality, and Emotions through Bharatanatyam: A Qualitative Study of Experienced Dancers
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experiences of Bharatanatyam dancers, their perceptions of this practice, and its potential impact on their overall wellbeing.
  • Investigators: Varsha Ganesh, Timothy Chen, Arin Budhiraja, Bruriah Horowitz, MEd, Christina Sauer, MS, David Victorson, PhD
  • Funding: N/A
WONDER: Walking Outdoors in Neighborhoods for pre-Diabbetes Environmental Research: A Randomized Crossover Trial
  • ​Purpose: To conduct a mechanistic randomized crossover trial to compare differences in physiological, psychological, air pollution, and cardiometabolic risk measures between walking interventions completed in urban Green and Gray environments in adults with prediabetes. 
  • Principal Investigators: Mark Pereira, PhD (University of Minnesota) and Teresa Horton, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute R01HL170504​​
GROW: Gardening for Recovery and Optimal Wellbeing
​
  • ​Purpose: This study is conducted in partnership with Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center (AnB) to examine ways in which AnB's healing garden is perceived by AnB clientele as beneficial to their wellbeing and recovery. 
  • Principal Investigators: Dan Hostetler (AnB) and Teresa Horton, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: Partnership Development Grant from the Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities (ARCC) at Northwestern University
Fit2ThriveMind: Optimizing a mHealth Physical Activity Intervention with Mindful Awareness Lessons in Breast Cancer Survivors
  • Purpose: To apply the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST), to determine which types of social support and mindfulness training intervention components optimally increase and maintain MVPA in a 6-month mHealth MVPA intervention with a 6-month follow-up in breast cancer survivors.
  • Principal Investigators: Siobhan Phillips, PhD and David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: National Cancer Institute R01CA266178 ​
Opt2Move: Optimization of a mHealth Physical Activity Promotion Intervention with Mindful Awareness for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study is to apply the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST), to determine which types of social support and mindfulness training intervention components optimally increase MVPA in a 12-week mHealth MVPA intervention with a 12 week follow-up in young adult cancer survivors. 
  • Principal Investigators: Siobhan Phillips, PhD and David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding:​ National Cancer Institute R01CA262357
PREPARE: Supporting Women with Breast Cancer to Prepare for Treatment 
  • Purpose: To evaluate the impact of brief self-directed mindfulness and health promotion practices on the emotional well-being and biological stress response in newly diagnosed women with stage 0-III breast cancer at NorthShore University HealthSystem. ​
  • Principal Investigators: Katherine Yao, MD (NorthShore University Health System) and David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University) 
  • Funding: John Wayne Cancer Foundation and the Myra Rubenstein Weis Foundation.
COMMENCE: Creating and Optimizing Mindfulness Measures to Enhance and Normalize Clinical Evaluation ​
  • Purpose: To develop, calibrate, and validate new self-report measures of mindfulness and related concepts by applying PROMIS and PROsetta Stone instrument development methodologies. 
  • Principal Investigators: David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University) and Carol Greco, PhD (University of Pittsburgh) 
  • Funding: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health R01AT009539 ​
MAPLE: Metabolics, Acer Production, & Lifestyle Evaluation
  • Purpose: To expand maple-sugaring activities at a national, nature-based cancer support nonprofit; increase metabolomic understanding of sap chemical composition variation related to sap harvest timing and geographic region; and 3) advance producer knowledge of cancer survivor consumer attitudes and perceptions of using sap-related products for hydration and health promotion purposes. 
  • Principal Investigator: David Victorson, PhD
  • Funding: USDA Acer Access and Development Grant 
MENTE CALMA Colombia: Advancing Understanding and Implementation of Digital Mindfulness Applications in Colombian Cancer Care
  • Purpose: To support global integrative oncology research by collecting implementation feasibility and acceptability data of the 9-week Spanish-language Wakeful app in a mixed sample of young adult cancer survivors (n=30) between 18-39, using a single arm pre-post test design with partners in Bogota, Colombia.
  • ​Principal Investigators: David Victorson, PhD and Siobhan Phillips, PhD (Northwestern University), Raul Murillo Moreno, MD (Hospital Universitario San Ignacio)  
  • Funding: National Cancer Institute Administrative Supplement R01CA262357-02S1 
MENTE CALMA Chicago: Advancing Understanding and Implementation of Digital Mindfulness Applications with Spanish Speaking Cancer Survivors in the Greater Chicago Area
  • Purpose: Evaluate the implementation feasibility and acceptability of the 9-week Spanish-translated mindfulness program, Wakeful, in a mixed Chicagoland cancer survivor sample. Specifically this study examined the feasibility and acceptability of offering weekly Zoom-based “meet up” sessions (moderated by a Spanish speaking mindfulness-trained facilitator) in conjunction with using the Wakeful-Spanish app with Spanish speaking cancer survivors. Meet-ups allow participants to ask questions, share challenges and insights, and connect with others. Multiple meet-up opportunities were offered each week to accommodate participant schedules.
  • ​Principal Investigators: David Victorson, PhD and Claudia Tellez, MD (Northwestern Medicine)
  • Funding: Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, IL
WeCanManage: An mHealth self-management tool to empower survivors with disabilities due to the long-term effects of cancer and its treatment
  • Purpose: To develop an innovative mHealth app, called WeCanManage (WCM), to empower cancer survivors with disabilities to proactively manage cancer and its consequences as a chronic condition.
  • ​Principal Investigators: Susan Magasi, PhD (University of Illinois - Chicago), Rachel Adler (University of Illinois), and David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: National Cancer Institute Administrative Supplement U54CA203000-7311 

Completed Studies

GRACE: GRAtitude, self-Compassion, and Empathy
  • Purpose: To develop and evaluate a brief mindfulness-based wellness program for healthcare professionals intended to increase knowledge of work-related stress and provide information and skill training in GRACE components: gratitude, mindfulness, self-compassion, and empathy.
  • ​Principal Investigator: David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University)​
  • Funding: The Gobel Group.
REASSURE ME: Reducing the Effects of Active Surveillance Stress, Uncertainty and Rumination thru Engagement in Mindfulness Education
  • Purpose: To conduct a partially blinded, multi-site randomized controlled clinical trial to examine the efficacy of mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) for men diagnosed with prostate cancer on active surveillance and their spouses compared to a time/attention-matched health promotion control condition. 
  • Principal Investigator: David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University); Site Principal Investigators: Kristen Novakovic, MD (NorthShore University Health System), Alexander Kutikov, MD (Fox Chase Cancer Center) Todd Morgan, MD (University of Michigan), and Shilajit Kundu, MD (Northwestern University).
  • ​Funding: National Cancer Institute R01CA193331 
SMART: Using SMART Design to Improve Symptom Management Strategies Among Cancer Patients 
​
  • Purpose: To test the sustainability of two evidenced-based complementary therapies using the sequential management assignment randomized trial (SMART) design. In this study, caregivers are taught reflexology and/or meditation or nothing (control) to provide to patients.
  • Principal Investigator: Gwen Wyatt, PhD, RN, FAAN (Michigan Statue University)
  • Co-investigator: David Victorson (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: National Institutes of Health 1R01CA193706-01A1
ACTIVATE: Acupuncture Clinical Tracking Initiative to Validate & Assess Treatment Effects in Integrative Oncology 
​
  • Purpose: To collect and examine prospective, longitudinal patient reported outcomes of symptom status and quality of life in the context of an existing acupuncture program at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Maggie Daley Center at Northwestern University.
  • ​Principal Investigator: David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
ECHO-MT: Enhancing Cardiac Health through Online Mindfulness Training
​
  • Purpose: To develop a comprehensive and dynamic eHealth-enabled mindfulness training tool and pilot test the new tool in a sample of patients with non-cardiac chest pain.
  • Principal Investigator: David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern University and Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute
ESTOY LISTA: Eliminating Stress, Tension & Overweight thru Yoga & Lifestyle Interventions – Survivors Taking Action 
​
  • Purpose: To examine the effects of a culturally tailored, Spanish language yoga program on obesity and stress reduction with Latino cancer patients.
  • ​Principal Investigator: David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: Osher Center for Integrative Medicine
HPDR: Health Promotion During Residency
​
  • Purpose: To examine the effects of a brief, mindful awareness training intervention (called a PIT STOP) on outcomes of stress, burnout, self-compassion, and performance on simulation of an internal jugular line insertion compared to a placebo control (health promotion video).
  • Principal Investigator: David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern Medicine
Home-Based Symptom Management Via Reflexology in Advanced Breast Cancer
​
  • Purpose: to test a complementary therapy intervention that will assist in improving quality of life for women undergoing chemotherapy for late stage (III and IV) breast cancer within the context of conventional medical care. In this study, caregivers are taught reflexology to provide to patients.
  • Principal Investigator: Gwen Wyatt, PhD, RN, FAAN (Michigan Statue University)
  • Co-investigator: David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: National Cancer Institute 5R01CA157459-02
 i-Mangage PC: Interactive Management, Assessment, Guidance & Education in Prostate Cancer
​
  •  Purpose: to develop and evaluate an online symptom monitoring/self management support tool for men diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer to improve symptom management of common concerns and increase access and utilization of support care activities.
  • Principal Investigator: David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: American Cancer Society - Illinois Division ACS Award #167732
INTERCAMBIOS: Identifying Needs Together through Engaged Research - Community/Academic Meetings to Bridge Initiatives in Obesity and Stress 
​
  • Purpose: To bring together community and academic partners to facilitate meaningful exchange around topics of obesity and chronic stress prevention/reduction in the Chicago Latino communities. ​
  • Principal Investigator: David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development R13HD075494-01A1
IMMERSE-PC: Investigating Mindfulness and Music to Ease Radiation Side Effects in Prostate Cancer
​
  • Purpose: to examine changes in fatigue, sleep disturbance, and anxiety in a sample of men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer who either receive brief, daily audio-recordings of mindfulness meditation, or relaxing music during their radiation therapy treatment.
  • Principal Investigator: David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: Fagen Family Trust.
Mind-Body Health in Uro-Oncology
​
  • Purpose: To expand  on our previous structured stress reduction study for all patients with localized prostate, kidney and bladdercancer and their spouses. We also collected stress biomarkers (whole blood samples) at baseline, 8-weeks and 6 months to measure associated changes in C-Reactive Protein and IL-6.
  • Principal Investigator: David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: John and Carol Walter Center for Urological Health (NorthShore University Health System)
MAESTRA: mHealth Application to Enhance Support, Treatment Readiness and Adjustment
MAESTRA originated from an NIH-funded pilot project from within a larger P20 grant focusing on cancer health disparities reduction. The purpose of this app is to connect limited English speaking (or monolingual Spanish speaking) Latinos diagnosed with cancer with matched cancer survivor peers in order to increase knowledge, information sharing, self-efficacy and needed social connection
MOSAIC-P: Mindfulness Online for Symptom Alleviation and Improvement in Cancer of the Prostate 
​
  • Purpose: to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a synchronous, 8-week online MBSR intervention with men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer using video conferencing software.
  • Principal Investigator: David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: NorthShore University Health System Pilot Grant.
REDEFINE AYAO: Reducing Emotional Distress, Enhancing Function and Improving Network Engagement in Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology
​
  • Purpose: To examine the feasibility and acceptability of mindfulness based stress reduction with young adults with cancer and evaluate its effects on outcomes of health related quality of life and disease symptoms.
  • Principal Investigator: David Victorson, PhD (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Illinois Division of the American Cancer Society.
SURPASS: Sitting with Uncertainties & Ruminative Processes of Active Surveillance Stress 
Purpose: 
WeCanConnect: Using mHealth to Connect Cancer Patients with Disabilities with Matched Disabled Survivors
​
  • Purpose: To build upon several existing community-engaged partnerships to build and test a new mHealth tool called “wE-CanConnect” intended to connect individuals with pre-existing physical disabilities and newly diagnosed cancer with matched peer cancer survivors.
  • ​Principal Investigator: Simon
  • Co-investigator: David Victorson (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: National Cancer Institute U54CA203000-04
PROCESS-PC: Patient Reported Outcomes Clarification, Equating & Standard Setting in Prostate Cancer
​
  • Purpose: To provide a unified assessment system and set of interpretable tools that can help detect, clarify and inform intervention effects within and across therapies or patient populations and advance the discovery of important prostate cancer phenotypes.
  • Principal Investigator: David Victorson (Northwestern University)
  • ​Funding: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
URO-QOL: Urological Outcomes and Quality of Life
​
  • Purpose: To implement a serial data collection protocol to support the systematic assessment of important patient reported outcomes of individuals diagnosed with urological oncology conditions (prostate cancer and tumors/cancer of the testis, bladder or kidney). Also, to prospectively profile quality of life outcomes before and following treatment for major urological cancers: kidney, bladder, testis and prostate.
  • Principal Investigator: David Victorson (Northwestern University)
  • Funding: Northwestern Memorial Faculty Foundation and NorthShore University Health System