Abel Lab Current Projects
A virtual assessment kit is mailed to participating patients
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Patient-Centered Care for Older Adults with Hematologic Malignancies
The Older Adult Hematologic Malignancy (OHM) Program is a specialized clinical and research initiative that measures the functional status of older adults with blood cancers, characterize the prognostic value of the geriatric domains measured, and develop interventions to improve function. This program seeks to better understand the impact of frailty on outcomes such as survival and healthcare utilization, and provide embedded geriatric management when appropriate to optimize care for this patient population. Read more about the OHM Program here. |
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Shared Care: Patient-Centered Management after Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
This study assesses the effectiveness of a shared approach to care after hematopoietic cell transplantation, in which patients receive part of their care with their local oncologist and part of their care at Dana-Farber. This is compared to “usual care” occurring exclusively at Dana-Farber in Boston. Effectiveness is assessed with respect to relevant patient-reported outcomes and traditional HCT outcomes. Read more about the Shared Care Program here. |
Our treatment team combines resources with local sites in New England
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Characterizing and Remediating Care Disparities in Clinical Acute Leukemia Research
This set of studies links national, state, cooperative group, and institutional datasets to comprehensively evaluate disparities between who is diagnosed with acute leukemia, who is represented in clinical research, and their outcomes. Resulting data are being used to inform providers of their performance enrolling diverse populations on clinical research protocols to engage them in the process of disparities remediation.
This set of studies links national, state, cooperative group, and institutional datasets to comprehensively evaluate disparities between who is diagnosed with acute leukemia, who is represented in clinical research, and their outcomes. Resulting data are being used to inform providers of their performance enrolling diverse populations on clinical research protocols to engage them in the process of disparities remediation.
Members of the Ethics Advisory Committee meet regularly to discuss clinical and institutional ethics
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Dana-Farber Cancer Ethics Research Initiative
This Cancer Ethics Research Initiative aims to address ethical implications of cancer care and research. The program has traditionally focused on cancer health equity and the ethics of emerging technologies in cancer care. The program is now investigating two new research themes: the ethical implications of artificial intelligence prognostic models for clinical decision-making in cancer care and research, and the emerging field of environmental oncology. |
Energy Balance Intervention
This developing study aims to pilot methods for improving and maintaining gait speed in older adults with blood cancers. Focus groups are being used to gain the perspectives of patients of varying functional status and cancer treatment intensity to better understand how exercise interventions may best be used in this population. The goal is to test supervised home-based interventions to improve function and gait speed for eligible patients.
This developing study aims to pilot methods for improving and maintaining gait speed in older adults with blood cancers. Focus groups are being used to gain the perspectives of patients of varying functional status and cancer treatment intensity to better understand how exercise interventions may best be used in this population. The goal is to test supervised home-based interventions to improve function and gait speed for eligible patients.
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UMass Boston – Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) Partnership
The UMB - DF/HCC Partnership is committed to developing a shared rigorous and collaborative transdisciplinary cancer and disparities-related research program. The Partnership's goal is to bridge the divides in cancer disparities science, research education, and outreach through innovative research, training, and practice. Dr. Abel and his co-investigators are dedicated to elevating the Partnership to make an impact on society and educating those affected by cancer. |
Drs. Colón-Carmona, Viswanath, Macoska, and Abel lead the Partnership
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Understanding and Improving End Of Life Care for Patients with Blood Cancers
The Abel lab works closely with the Odejide lab to improve end of life (EOL) care for patients with blood cancers. Projects have addressed the best way to measure the quality of EOL care received by this patient population, changes in EOL care practices over time, and eliminating barriers to hospice use.
The Abel lab works closely with the Odejide lab to improve end of life (EOL) care for patients with blood cancers. Projects have addressed the best way to measure the quality of EOL care received by this patient population, changes in EOL care practices over time, and eliminating barriers to hospice use.
HMDR integrates clinical, pathologic, and genetic data
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Impact of Frailty and Genomics on Outcomes in Older Individuals with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and MDS Receiving Initial Chemotherapy
The goal of this study is to leverage the frailty assessment efforts of the OHM Program with the rigorous clinical and genomic annotation of Dana-Faber's Hematologic Malignancy Data Repository (HMDR) to determine whether frailty status and prognostic variables such as cytogenetics and genomics can be used together to inform prognosis and treatment decisions for older adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). |
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Technology to Assess In-Home Function in Older Adults with Blood Cancers This study investigates the feasibility of longitudinal, in-home measurement of function and gait speed in older adults with blood cancers through the use of two new measurement technologies. Technologies being investigated include smartphone-based accelerometers and passive activity monitors, with the goal of direct input into the electronic health record. |
Gait Application developed by Dr. Brad Manor and team at Hebrew SeniorLife
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 Health advocates work with patients through the use of avatars
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Development of Avatar-based Intervention to Support Patients Undergoing Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular TherapyThis developing study aims to understand the feasibility of providing artificial intelligence (AI) technology for stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy patients in the hospital setting. Care.coach allows users to interact with an avatar that offers psychosocial support with virtual assistants and opportunities for users to engage in a variety of symptom management modules.
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