PSYCHOSOCIAL ONCOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM
University of Calgary/Tom Baker Cancer Centre
Calgary has hosted a vibrant research program in Psycho-Oncology for many years, spearheaded by Dr. Barry Bultz in the 1980's. With the appointment of Dr. Linda Carlson as a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator in Psycho-Oncology in 2001, the program received a fresh injection of energy and began exploring innovative and exciting new directions.
With collaborators from many University Departments and the Calgary Health Region, projects are underway in diverse new areas, including psychophysiology, psychoneuroendocrinology, and exercise interventions. Additionally, well-established research components continue to flourish within clinical programs such as smoking cessation, supportive-expressive therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and sexuality and cancer. Our model includes family members as well as patients in programs and research.
Our team has also embraced technology and is excited to continue work within the area of web-based quality of life assessment.
Mission
The mission of the U of C/TBCC Psycho-Oncology Research Program is to conduct high quality, innovative and important research across the breadth of psycho-oncology, focusing on psychosocial interventions for patients and family members.
Vision
Our vision is to create a multidisciplinary team of psycho-oncology researchers with varied backgrounds, including trainees at every level from undergraduate to postdoctoral, studying a range of problems within the spectrum of psycho-oncology. Specialties in the study of mind-body interactions in cancer and the development and evaluation of psychosocial interventions are emphasized.