Research
Danielle Tometich
Real-Life Assessment and Intervention in Behavioral Oncology Lab (RAINBO LAB)
The overall goal of the work in the RAINBO Lab is to improve the quality of life during and after cancer.
Cancer has touched the lives of nearly all of us – either directly or through a loved one’s diagnosis. Worldwide, cancer is a leading cause of death and disability. According to the WHO and Global Cancer Statistics from 2020, over 19 million cases of cancer are diagnosed each year, with over 400,000 cases in children. Although the number of new cancer cases is staggering, new treatment approaches offer hope—death rates due to cancer are declining. In fact, 33% fewer people are dying from cancer now compared to 30 years ago. This is wonderful news, and yet, as more of the population joins the ranks of “cancer survivors” (people living after cancer treatment) or “thrivers/meta-vivors” (people living with advanced cancer), more work needs to be done to address the needs of those living with and beyond cancer.
The overall goal of the work in the RAINBO Lab is to improve the quality of life during and after cancer. Thus far, we have worked toward this goal by focusing on a few key areas that affect quality of life. One of those areas is cancer-related cognitive impairment (colloquially known as “chemobrain” or “chemofog”). Currently, cancer-related cognitive impairment has been difficult to measure and quantify using gold-standard neuropsychological testing, so for this first pillar of work, we use real-time and technology-assisted assessments to quantify ecologically valid variability in cognitive performance. Another area is understanding how health behaviors, which are potentially modifiable, affect cognitive functioning, fatigue, and mental health after cancer. This second pillar of work empowers those living with and after cancer with information about what they can change to enhance their well-being. Finally, we also study the side-effects and long-term effects of new treatments for advanced staged and metastatic cancers. This third pillar of work informs treatment decisions and symptom management to maximize quality of life during potentially short-term or uncertain prognoses.
Danielle Tometich, PhD -- Principal Investigator
Dr. Tometich is an Assistant Professor in the USF College of Nursing. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center after completing her clinical internship at Yale University and graduating with her PhD from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Her research foci are: cancer-related cognitive impairment, health behavior change for symptom management, and patient-reported outcomes of novel cancer treatments. As a clinical psychologist by training, her guiding theoretical frameworks are biopsychosocial and socio-ecological. Her doctoral dissertation work, funded by an NRSA F31 award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), focused on examining bidirectional associations between physical activity and executive cognitive function among older cancer survivors. While completing her postdoctoral fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center on the NCI T32 in Behavioral Oncology, she conducted two pilot studies of patient-reported outcomes of immunotherapy for melanoma and renal cell carcinoma, and then received an NCI K99/R00 award to support her research examining cancer-related cognitive impairment in young adult cancer survivors. Outside of work she enjoys listening to audiobooks, sewing, and practicing aerial circus arts.
Autumn Mreczko -- Project Manager
Autumn is a project manager in the College of Nursing's Office of Research with 15 years of combined experience in project management and research support. She is committed to improving health resources, quality of life, and outcomes while advancing research initiatives that have a meaningful impact on healthcare systems.
Berrin McFadden -- Research Support Specialist
Berrin McFadden is a skilled Research Support Specialist with extensive experience in facilitating and managing research projects. He specializes in utilizing software tools like MetricWire, Redcap, and BuildClinical to ensure seamless data management and analysis, while maintaining data accuracy. Berrin collaborates closely with a remote team of professionals to ensure that study procedures are completed on time and within budget. Passionate about problem-solving, he is committed to resolving any issues related to research studies within hours of being reported. Berrin also implements innovative participant engagement strategies that enhance study compliance and improve data collection efficiency. His expertise extends to managing clinical research data systems and protocols while working cross-functionally to streamline participant recruitment and retention efforts.
Christina Hersh -- Graduate Research Assistant
Christina is a PhD student in the College of Nursing, dedicated to advancing cardio-oncology care by investigating patient-reported outcomes among breast cancer survivors with cardiotoxicity. As a graduate research assistant in the RAINBO lab, she supports its mission to enhance quality of life during and after cancer.
Kenley Clark -- Graduate Research Assistant
As a PhD student in the College of Nursing, Kenley is committed to improving the lives of individuals in marginalized populations who face mental health challenges. His research interest in nutritional psychiatry focuses on diet and nutrition as a risk factor and treatment target for mental health.
Danielle Abukhalaf -- Graduate Research Assistant
Danielle is a PhD student in the College of Nursing. Her research examines the role of the gut microbiome, inflammation, and intestinal barrier dysfunction in adult septic patients with acute kidney injury. It aims to deepen our understanding of these interactions to inform future nursing interventions and improve patient outcomes.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
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Valerie Vargas Ardila
Valerie Vargas ArdilaValerie is a junior majoring in Biology with a minor in Public Health in the pre-med track with the goal of becoming a pediatrician. -
Aishwarya Aggarwal
Aishwarya AggarwalAishwarya, a senior in Biomedical Sciences with a Nutrition minor, aims to work in research before pursuing a PhD in molecular oncology. -
Serene Abulhaija
Serene AbulhaijaSerene is a pre-med honors student at USF, dual majoring in Biomedical Sciences and Psychology with the goal of becoming a psychiatrist.