Klosky Research

The overarching goal of my research program is to utilize behavioral means to reduce health risks among survivors of childhood cancer. As a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine, I have developed a program of research in this regard focusing on the following primary objectives:

1.) Characterization and prediction of risky health behaviors in survivors of childhood cancer

2.) Utilization of behaviorally-mediated strategies to a) control, and b) prevent second cancers in adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer.

To pursue these objectives, I actively investigate the relations between psychological factors (e.g. health belief, cognitive-motivational, social learning) and health behaviors (e.g. risky sexual behaviors, HPV vaccination, fertility preservation, sexual functioning), and have subsequently designed and tested interventions aimed at modifying psychological factors as a mechanism for behavior change. Working within a developmental framework, this approach has been tested in child and adolescent cancer survivors as a means of delaying or preventing risky health behaviors in adolescence and young adulthood.

• Quoted in U.S. News & World Report on fertility preservation
• Featured in TIME and BBC News for research in breast feeding among mothers surviving childhood cancer

• Overview of R25 grant entitled “Enriching Communication Skills of Health Professionals in Oncofertility (ECHO)”
• Interview of JCI manuscript entitled “Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates in young cancer survivors.”
• Google Hangout conducted by the NCI and NIMH entitled – “The Psychosocial Impacts of Pediatric and Adolescent Cancers” hosted by Drs. Maryland Pao, James Klosky, Lori Weiner, and Staci Martin
• Interview with Oncology Nursing News – “HPV-Related Cancer in Childhood Cancer Survivors”