Electra D. Paskett, PhD

Dr. Paskett's BCRF-funded research focuses on the role nutrients, food intake, exercise, and body weight have on breast cancer among women at high risk for this disease. Currently her team has four ongoing studies that are part of this program: 1) a study of tomato and soy supplementation on biomarkers of breast cancer risk; 2) a trial of a low fat vs. low carbohydrate diets on weight loss and biomarkers of breast cancer risk; 3) a study investigating whether a computer program can give effective social support for an exercise program; and 4) a study of the impact of diet, exercise, and obesity on risk of poor outcomes among breast cancer survivors.

Data are currently being analyzed for study 1, study 2 is in the follow-up phase, and recruitment is ongoing for studies 3 and 4. Through these initiatives the researchers will contribute to the scientific body of knowledge by providing information on nutritional ways to reduce risk of developing breast cancer among high-risk women.

Mid-Year Progress Report:
Dr. Paskett reports in late January 2008 that data are currently ready to be analyzed for study 1, 2, and 4 (baseline). Recruitment is active for study 3, and study 4 is in the follow-up phase.

Bio:
Electra Paskett received her undergraduate degree in biology and a Master's of Science Degree in Public Health (Epidemiology) from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City. She received her doctoral degree in Epidemiology and Health Services Research from the School of Public Health at the University of Washington in Seattle. In 1989, she joined the faculty of the Department of Public Health Sciences at what was then Bowman Gray School of Medicine, where she became an Associate Professor.

Dr. Paskett became the Marion N. Rowley Professor of Cancer Research in the Division of Epidemiology and Biometrics in the School of Public Health, Associate Director for Population Sciences and Co-Program Leader of the Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program in the Comprehensive Cancer Center of the Ohio State University in January of 2002. She is also Director of the Diversity Enhancement Program at the James Cancer Hospital at the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. Paskett is the chair of the Cancer Control and Health Outcomes Committee of Cancer And Leukemia Group B. She was active in several committees in North Carolina and the nation related to cancer control and the conduct of multi-center prevention studies. She was a member of the Psychosocial and Behavioral Research, Scientific Advisory Committee of the American Cancer Society and served as chair of this review group during her final year.

She was also a member of the National Cancer Institute Initial Review Group-Subcommittee A for Cancer Center reviews. Dr. Paskett is the author or co-author of numerous journal articles, book chapters, and abstracts.

Dr. Paskett's current research focuses on intervention research directed at cancer prevention, early detection and survivorship issues. She is the principal investigator of: a study investigating why women in Appalachia Ohio have high cervical cancer rates; a study testing an intervention to prevent lymphedema in breast cancer patients; a study testing a stepped intervention to improve colorectal cancer screening; a study to examine the efficacy of patient navigations; and a study examining issues long-term breast cancer survivors face.

In addition, Dr. Paskett is serving as the President-Elect for the American Society of Preventive Oncology.