# Understanding neuropsychological and psychosocial sequelae in the elderly and in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors

> **NIH NIH K00** · ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL · 2020 · $91,772

## Abstract

This award will provide a translational and multidisciplinary research training experience for Annalynn Williams,
M.S., a doctoral candidate in epidemiology at University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Ms.
Williams intends to pursue a career in cancer survivorship research that addresses questions of direct clinical
relevance using an innovative research paradigm that combines public health, clinical, and basic science
approaches. This is of emerging importance as the number of cancer survivors is expected to reach 18 million
by 2022 [1]. Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) and other psychosocial symptoms (e.g. anxiety,
depression, fatigue, etc) are frequently reported by cancer survivors, and cytotoxic treatments are believed to
be an important contributor. However, it is not yet known what factors and mechanisms increase survivors’
susceptibility to CRCI and other sequelae. The National Cancer Institute has recognized the need for further
research dedicated to this issue and has established it as a priority. Up to 10 million cancer survivors will
experience CRCI before, during, or years after treatment for their disease. Some evidence suggests that CRCI
may occur through various pro-inflammatory neurotoxic pathways but the relative contribution of cancer-related
pathology and cancer treatment to CRCI and inflammation is currently unknown. The overall goal of this
proposal is for Ms. Williams to enter the field of cancer survivorship research (Aim 1) by addressing a research
question targeted at treatment, inflammation, and cognition using a feasible approach that takes advantage of
a well-established clinical research infrastructure (Aim 2). She will subsequently pursue a postdoctoral
fellowship that will provide further training to study the biological and clinical consequences of cancer and its
treatment (Aim 3) preparing her for a career as an independent investigator in translational cancer survivorship
research. This dissertation research project will examine whether cancer biology is related to CRCI prior to
treatment and whether treatment exacerbates this effect, and to examine the role of inflammation in the
relationship between cancer and CRCI. We will recruit a population of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
survivors. This population was chosen because of its indolent disease course and pro-inflammatory
microenvironment, which will allow us to better examine the role of inflammation and cancer pathology in CRCI
before and after cancer treatment. Ms. Williams has worked closely with her co-sponsors to develop a
predoctoral training plan which includes didactic and mentored training in immunology, cancer biology,
neuropsychological assessment, and laboratory methods. This plan will ensure the feasibility and quality of the
research, and will provide an excellent foundation for a postdoctoral fellowship that will focus on studying the
biological mechanisms of additional cancer-related neuropsychological and psych...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9853758
- **Project number:** 5K00CA222742-04
- **Recipient organization:** ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** AnnaLynn Williams
- **Activity code:** K00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $91,772
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-01-24 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9853758

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9853758, Understanding neuropsychological and psychosocial sequelae in the elderly and in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (5K00CA222742-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9853758. Licensed CC0.

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