Genetic Predictors of Cognitive Function, Depression and Fatigue in Cancer

描述(申请人提供)：作为一名对癌症的心理和生理影响有浓厚兴趣的临床心理学家，我在行为肿瘤学研究方面有丰富的经验。我的长期目标是建立一个由NCI支持的独立研究项目，致力于研究基因对癌症患者认知功能、抑郁和疲劳的影响。我的短期目标是检查接受异基因造血干细胞移植(HSCT)治疗的个体的这些副作用。HSCT是治疗癌症的最具生理和精神压力的疗法之一。接受HSCT治疗的患者中有相当大一部分经历了长期的认知障碍、抑郁和疲劳。这项拟议的研究将：1)对接受异基因HSCT治疗的患者与非癌症患者相比，在认知功能、抑郁和疲劳方面的纵向变化提供方法上的严格评估；以及2)探索这些副作用的遗传预测因素。这项研究预计将产生临床和概念上的重要数据，这些数据将为我的独立研究计划提供依据。这项研究将得到以下领域的严格培训的补充：接受HSCT治疗的个体的认知功能、抑郁和疲劳的评估；HSCT的医学方面；纵向评估和数据分析；医学遗传学、行为遗传学和行为的生物学机制；基因提取、基因分型和全基因组关联研究；以及负责任的研究工作。拟议的培训计划包括正式指导、授课课程以及出席和介绍校内和国家研究会议。莫菲特癌症中心的资源非常出色，这将有助于我提出的职业发展和研究计划。我相信，这笔赠款中提议的培训和研究将有助于我继续取得成功，并将加快我向独立调查员的过渡。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): As a clinical psychologist with a strong interest in the psychological and physical effects of cancer, I have substantial experience in behavioral oncology research. My long-term goal is to establish an NCI-supported independent research program dedicated to studying genetic influences on cognitive functioning, depression, and fatigue in individuals with cancer. My short-term goal is to examine these side effects in individuals treated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). HSCT is one of the most physically and emotionally stressful treatments for cancer. Sizeable subgroups of patients treated with HSCT experience long-term cognitive deficits, depression, and fatigue. The proposed research will: 1) provide a methodologically-rigorous evaluation of longitudinal change in cognitive functioning, depression, and fatigue in patients treated with allogeneic HSCT compared to individuals without cancer; and 2) explore genetic predictors of these side effects. This study is expected to yield clinically and conceptually important data which will inform my independent program of research. The study will be complemented by rigorous training in the following areas: the assessment of cognitive functioning, depression, and fatigue in individuals treated with HSCT; medical aspects of HSCT; longitudinal assessment and data analysis; medical genetics, behavioral genetics, and biological mechanisms of behavior; gene extraction, genotyping, and genome-wide association studies; and the responsible conduct of research. The proposed training plan includes formal mentorship, didactic coursework, and attendance and presentation at intramural and national research meetings. The resources of Moffitt Cancer Center are outstanding and will facilitate my proposed career development and program of research. I am confident that the training and research proposed in this grant will contribute to my continuing success and will accelerate my transition to an independent investigator.