The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP) has created the DCP Early Career Scientist Spotlight Research Seminar Series to highlight nominated early career scientists who are advancing research within the areas supported by DCP. The overall goal of this ongoing seminar series is to increase visibility and provide recognition to these DCP Early Career Scientists.
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Key information
- Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026
- Time: 11:00am EDT to 12:00pm EDT
- Location: Virtual via WebEx
Registration Information
Registration is required.
Speakers
Targeting Integrative Oncology Interventions for Symptom Management Among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors
Robert Knoerl, PhD, RN
Assistant Professor, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor MI
Biography
Dr. Robert Knoerl’s program of research aims to develop options for managing cancer treatment-related side effects that are effective and have fewer, or no, side effects. To this end, Dr. Knoerl has led clinical trials to explore the potential of non-pharmacological interventions, such as yoga, music therapy, and cognitive behavioral pain management, to reduce the occurrence of cancer-treatment-related side effects and improve cancer survivors' quality of life. In particular, Dr. Knoerl has focused the testing of such nonpharmacological interventions for remote delivery and/or adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Dr. Knoerl received postdoctoral training at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (2017-2019) and is a graduate of the University of Michigan’s BSN (2014) and PhD (2017) nursing programs.
Lifestyle as an Adjuvant to Cancer Immunotherapy
Marlies Meisel, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh
Biography
Dr. Marlies Meisel is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, where her research focuses on the complex interactions between gut microbes and the host immune system in health, cancer, and autoimmunity.
Following her PhD in Austria studying T cell autoimmunity, her postdoctoral work at the University of Chicago uncovered mechanisms by which microbes influence intestinal inflammation and cancer development.
Her current lab investigates how the gut microbiota modulates tumor immunity, while also exploring the modulation of gut metabolites through diet and exercise to impact systemic immunity in the context of cancer.