Research Projects
To inquire about participating in our active research projects please send us a message to Nourish2Flourish@kumc.edu.
NOURISH Trial: Addressing Food Insecurity in Transplant and Cellular Therapy Patients with Health Care-Community Partnerships
- Sponsor: NIH/NINR R01 NR021468
- Principal investigators: Anna Arthur and Tony Sung
The Nutrition OUtReach In Systems of Health care (NOURISH) Trial is multi-site clinical trial with the University of Kansas Cancer Center (primary site), Duke Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Stanford Cancer Institute. Researchers are testing a clinic-based, medically tailored groceries intervention designed to make it easier for hematologic cancer patients undergoing transplant and cellular therapies to access healthy food and prevent malnutrition. By partnering each cancer center with regional food banks like Harvester's in Kansas City, the study aims to determine whether providing medically tailored food support discreetly during clinic visits can prevent malnutrition, improve food insecurity and clinical outcomes, and reduce health care costs.
FORCE Trial Pilot: Fish Oil-Enriched Nutrition for Radiotherapy in Cancer of the Head and Neck
- Sponsor: Fresenius Kabi
- Principal investigator: Anna Arthur
The FORCE Trial Pilot is a pilot/feasibility study examining the use of a fish oil-enriched nutritional supplement during treatment for patients with head and neck cancer. The study aims to understand whether this type of supplement is acceptable and can be safely tolerated by patients to help support nutrition and health during radiotherapy. Findings will inform a future randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of the fish-oil enriched drink can help reduce malnutrition, loss of muscle mass and treatment toxicities.
CARE Study: Cohort of Head and Neck Cancer, Nutrition and Health
- Sponsor: KU School of Health Professions pilot grant
- Principal investigators: Anna Arthur and Gregory Gan
The CARE Study follows patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer through treatment and recovery to explore how inflammation, immune function and nutrition interact over time. By tracking changes in inflammatory markers, immune cells and nutrient levels (fatty acids and L-arginine), the study aims to understand why some patients experience muscle loss (sarcopenia) and poorer outcomes. Findings will help identify biological pathways linking inflammation and nutrition to treatment response, guiding future nutrition-focused or anti-inflammatory strategies to improve survival and quality of life for patients with head and neck cancer.
NLit-HNC Study: Nutrition Literacy and Associated Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer Survivor-Caregiver Dyads
- Sponsor: KU Cancer Center Community Outreach and Engagement Core pilot grant
- Principal investigators: Anna Arthur and Heather Gibbs
This study examines how survivors of head and neck cancer and their caregivers understand and use nutrition information after treatment. By examining connections between nutrition knowledge, dietary habits and well-being, the study aims to identify ways to better support recovery and quality of life through improved nutrition education and resources.
Completed Projects
- Understanding the nutritional challenges of food insecure cancer survivors (Sponsor: Christopher Family Foundation).
- Building a foundation for future dietary intervention trials in adults diagnosed with cancer (Sponsor: USDA/NIFA Hatch Project #1011487).
- Feasibility of a carbohydrate-restricted, high fat diet to improve outcomes in head and neck cancer: a pilot randomized controlled trial (Sponsors: Augusta Victoria Hospital Program in Palliative Care; Future Interdisciplinary Research Explorations (FIRE) grant program; Illinois ACES Office of International Programs seed grant).
- The role of diet and nutritional status in improving cancer prognosis and quality of life (Sylvia D. Stroup Scholar gift fund).
- Integrating epigenetic biomarkers and nutritional assessment to cancer patients’ care plan for better guidance of optimal health (Sponsor: Korba Family Trust Seed Funding for Transformative Research).
- Taste dysfunction, nutrition, and quality of life in head and neck cancer survivors (Sponsor: Illinois Vision 20/20).
- Exploring an optimal patient-centered e-intervention of dual health behaviors among breast cancer patients and survivors (Sponsor: Illinois Center for Social and Behavioral Sciences small grant program).
- Impact of a pilot/feasibility green vegetable intervention on serum carotenoid levels in post-treatment head and neck cancer survivors (Sponsor: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Oncology Nutrition small grant program).
- Improving dietary patterns in head and neck cancer survivors to optimize disease outcomes and supportive care: a pilot/feasibility study (Sponsor: UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care).
- Diet and nutritional status in the year following diagnosis with head and neck cancer (Sponsor: Colgate-Palmolive and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Fellowship in Nutrition and Oral Health).