St. Jude Research
Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences

Research

The Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences is comprised of faculty members with highly productive and innovative research programs that span mechanistic and prospective outcome studies and randomized clinical trials. Results from our research studies offer insights that guide modifications in the delivery of front-line therapy and the development of interventions to improve long-term outcomes for children facing cancer and other catastrophic illness.

Our Faculty form a collaborative team of psychologists, neuropsychologists and cognitive neuroscientists who work within the department and across the institution to advance our ability to conduct research and provide care that enhances emotional, behavioral and cognitive outcomes, and overall quality of life for children with catastrophic disease.

Research Focus Areas

Research areas within the Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences fall into two broad categories—Biobehavioral Health and Cognitive Neuroscience. Departmental investigators may have research interests that bridge both areas, and our Faculty strive to:

  • Describe the occurrence of emotional, behavioral, and cognitive outcomes associated with diagnosis and treatment of childhood disease in order to identify risk/resiliency factors and increase understanding of underlying mechanistic causes.
  • Develop and test innovative and high-impact biobehavioral and neurocognitive interventions that are suitable for widespread dissemination and are designed to prevent or reduce acute and long-term complications of treatment and/or remediate treatment-related deficits.

Our translational approach utilizes the findings from our outcomes research to inform the development of novel interventions.

  1. Biobehavioral Health

    Within the biobehavioral health research domain, we conduct innovative research that aims to evaluate a myriad of factors that impact patient health throughout the course of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care. Our Faculty focus on: 

    • coping and adaptive styles
    • social functioning and social determinants of health
    • health behaviors, including physical activity, nutrition, and sleep
    • parenting and family factors
    • adherence to treatment and prescribed interventions
    • pain and stress management
    • biological mechanisms underlying behavior
    • transition issues (transition to follow-up care and transition to adult care)

    Our comprehensive research ensures we can guide interventions that aid in the optimal health potential and quality of life outcomes for patients affected by pediatric catastrophic diseases.

  2. Cognitive Neurosciences

    In the Cognitive Neurosciences research domain, efforts focus on identification of mechanisms underlying atypical neurocognitive and neurobehavioral functioning following diagnosis and treatment of pediatric catastrophic diseases. This research includes:

    • neurocognitive testing
    • structural and functional brain imaging
    • biomarkers of brain health and function
    • polysomnography
    • cognitive training
    • neuromodulation (neurostimulation and neurofeedback)

    Our work seeks to determine the risk and resiliency factors that can influence long-term cognitive outcomes, and develop and test interventions to prevent or ameliorate cognitive impairments in order optimize functional outcomes.

A venn diagram illustrated the research focus areas between Cognitive Outcomes and Quality of Life and Health Promotion

Institutional Collaborations

Collaboration is a defining element of our approach to clinical investigations. To advance research initiatives within the Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences and across St. Jude, our Faculty partner with major institutional programs and centers. 

Our collaborative efforts span the breadth of St. Jude, from programs within the Comprehensive Cancer Center to research efforts with other departments and specialized institutional programs. The integration of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences investigators and protocols within these programs and initiatives serves to advance discovery and care for children with catastrophic diseases.

Department of Psychology Initiatives & Programmatic Collaborations

Comprehensive Cancer Center Programs
Specialized Institutional Programs
Departments

Psychology Clinical Trials

Protocol-based psychological and neuropsychological testing is often conducted as part of therapeutic clinical trials, in which assessment batteries are designed to answer specific research questions and imbedded interventions guide therapeutic care. Following protocol-based assessment, families are provided brief feedback, and clinical assessment may be recommended if areas of weakness are identified.

The Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences also conducts independent protocols investigating long term effects of disease and therapy, as well as randomized clinical trials to improve health behaviors, emotional functioning, and cognitive outcomes in patients with catastrophic disease.

View psychology clinical trials.