Dr. Ferrucci’s primary research interests are in elucidating modifiable causes of cancer and developing a better understanding of how cancer impacts the individual across various life domains. She focuses mainly on evaluating diet/nutrition and ultraviolet radiation related exposures in relation to cancer. Her research also encompasses the needs and experiences of cancer survivors, including health information needs and quality of life, utilizing a unique national longitudinal study of cancer survivors. Dr. Ferrucci is working to translate some of her etiologic and descriptive findings into behavioral and structural interventions for individuals and communities to reduce cancer risk and impact survivorship. Dr. Ferrucci has conducted both quantitative and qualitative research to develop a behavioral prevention intervention to prevent indoor tanning in young people. In addition to her work on skin cancer prevention, Dr. Ferrucci is also studying sun exposure, sun protection behaviors, and indoor tanning among skin cancer survivors after their diagnosis to better understand these risk behaviors after a cancer diagnosis. Her work in nutrition and diet currently includes an evaluation of diet quality and food insecurity in female cancer survivors and an evaluation of the gut microbiome and metabolomics in breast cancer survivors enrolled in a weigh-loss trial. She is also studying diet quality as assessed by skin carotenoids in relation to chemotherapy-related side effects in breast cancer patients.
Understanding ultraviolet radiation exposure in skin cancer survivors
Understanding and preventing indoor tanning among young adults and adolescents
Diet quality and food insecurity in female cancers survivors
Microbiome and metabolomics in relation to weight loss in breast cancers survivors
Dietary meat intake and colorectal neoplasia
Needs of long-term cancer survivors
Diet quality and chemotherapy related side effects
Breast Neoplasms; Chronic Disease; Diet; Epidemiology; Public Health; Skin Neoplasms; Tanning; Colorectal Neoplasms; Survivors; Metabolomics
Cancer; Nutrition