Maura Harrigan, MS, RDN, CSO
Oncology Research Registered Dietitian/Project ManagerCards
About
Titles
Oncology Research Registered Dietitian/Project Manager
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Survivorship Clinic, Yale Cancer Center
Biography
Maura is certified in Adult Weight Management and is a Specialist in Oncology Nutrition through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Maura is a frequently invited speaker addressing the unique nutrition concerns of the cancer survivor. As the Project Manager of the Lifestyle Exercise and Nutrition (LEAN) Study, Maura works with the research team of Melinda Irwin, PhD, MPH and Tara Sanft, MD and provides the nutrition and exercise intervention counseling to the breast cancer participants throughout the course of their active treatment.
Departments & Organizations
- Chronic Disease Epidemiology (CDE)
- Obesity Research Working Group
- Yale Medicine
- Yale School of Public Health - NEW
Education & Training
- MS
- New York University, Clinical Nutrition (1984)
- Dietetic Internship
- The New York Hospital - Cornell Medical Center (1981)
Research
Publications
2024
Baseline predictors associated with successful weight loss among breast cancer survivors in the Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition (LEAN) study
Hoobler R, Puklin L, Harrigan M, Cartmel B, Li F, Sanft T, Ferrucci L, Irwin M, Playdon M. Baseline predictors associated with successful weight loss among breast cancer survivors in the Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition (LEAN) study. Journal Of Cancer Survivorship 2024, 1-9. PMID: 39528779, DOI: 10.1007/s11764-024-01702-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBreast cancer survivorsClinically meaningful weight lossCancer survivorsWeight loss interventionCancer SurvivorsBreast cancer survivorsWeight loss successConclusionBreast cancer survivorsPrevention of weight gainAssociated with lower oddsHistory of weight gainHealthy body weightMultivariate logistic regressionCancer treatmentSuccessful weight lossBreast cancer treatmentIntervention armLower oddsResultsBaseline dataDesign of programsWeight lossLogistic regressionC-statisticWeight gainSurvivorsInterventionBarriers to and facilitators of improving physical activity and nutrition behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: a sequential mixed methods study
Puklin L, Irwin M, Sanft T, Ferrucci L, Harrigan M, McGowan C, Cartmel B, Zupa M, Winer E, Deyling M, Ligibel J, Basen-Engquist K, Spiegelman D, Sharifi M. Barriers to and facilitators of improving physical activity and nutrition behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: a sequential mixed methods study. Supportive Care In Cancer 2024, 32: 590. PMID: 39141176, DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08789-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPhysical activityLifestyle interventionSelf-reported PA questionnaireSelf-reported diet qualityBreast cancerHealthy Eating Index-2015Stage I-III breast cancerBenefits of PASequential mixed methods studyI-III breast cancerChemotherapy-related symptomsMixed methods studyThematic content analysisBehavioral goalsSense of controlBody mass indexPA questionnaireSemi-structured interviewsMean body mass indexTranscribed verbatimIntervention armTailored educationDiet qualityNutritional behaviorMental benefitsImproving lifestyle behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: The Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition Early After Diagnosis (LEANer) Trial
Puklin L, Ferrucci L, Harrigan M, McGowan C, Zupa M, Cartmel B, Li F, Ligibel J, Spiegelman D, Sharifi M, Sanft T, Irwin M. Improving lifestyle behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: The Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition Early After Diagnosis (LEANer) Trial. Cancer 2024, 130: 2440-2452. PMID: 38470431, PMCID: PMC11214600, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35280.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPhysical activityDiet qualityHEI-2015Strength trainingLifestyle behaviorsHealthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015Breast cancerAssociated with baseline fatigueImprove physical activityImprove lifestyle behaviorsHigher HEI-2015Associated with higher oddsExercise interventionUsual careIntervention armIntervention groupBaseline fatigueLifestyle interventionYearlong interventionLower fatigueHigher oddsSecondary analysisLogistic regressionNewly diagnosed patientsStudy arms
2023
Randomized Trial Evaluating a Self-Guided Lifestyle Intervention Delivered via Evidence-Based Materials versus a Waitlist Group on Changes in Body Weight, Diet Quality, Physical Activity, and Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Survivors
Puklin L, Harrigan M, Cartmel B, Sanft T, Gottlieb L, Zhou B, Ferrucci L, Li F, Spiegelman D, Sharifi M, Irwin M. Randomized Trial Evaluating a Self-Guided Lifestyle Intervention Delivered via Evidence-Based Materials versus a Waitlist Group on Changes in Body Weight, Diet Quality, Physical Activity, and Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Survivors. Cancers 2023, 15: 4719. PMID: 37835412, PMCID: PMC10571774, DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194719.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBreast cancer survivorsCancer survivorsLifestyle interventionPhysical activityQuality of lifeBody weightWaitlist groupDiet qualitySelf-reported body weightWeight lossFavorable weight changeHealthy weight lossBody mass indexHealthy body weightGreater weight lossEvidence-based materialsDiverse healthcare settingsIntervention armMass indexClinical practicePositive behavior changeHealthcare settingsSurvivorsWeight changeInterventionRandomized Trial of Exercise and Nutrition on Chemotherapy Completion and Pathologic Complete Response in Women With Breast Cancer: The Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition Early After Diagnosis Study
Sanft T, Harrigan M, McGowan C, Cartmel B, Zupa M, Li F, Ferrucci L, Puklin L, Cao A, Nguyen T, Neuhouser M, Hershman D, Basen-Engquist K, Jones B, Knobf T, Chagpar A, Silber A, Tanasijevic A, Ligibel J, Irwin M. Randomized Trial of Exercise and Nutrition on Chemotherapy Completion and Pathologic Complete Response in Women With Breast Cancer: The Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition Early After Diagnosis Study. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2023, 41: 5285-5295. PMID: 37656930, PMCID: PMC10691793, DOI: 10.1200/jco.23.00871.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRelative dose intensityPathologic complete responseProportion of patientsBreast cancerNeoadjuvant chemotherapyChemotherapy completionComplete responseNutrition interventionsHigher pathologic complete responseHuman epidermal growth factor receptor 2Epidermal growth factor receptor 2Triple-negative breast cancerChemotherapy dose adjustmentsHome-based exerciseGrowth factor receptor 2Breast cancer outcomesEffects of exerciseFactor receptor 2Electronic medical recordsChi-square testUsual careDose intensityExercise interventionDose adjustmentRandomized trialsEffect of Exercise on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Among Patients Treated for Ovarian Cancer
Cao A, Cartmel B, Li F, Gottlieb L, Harrigan M, Ligibel J, Gogoi R, Schwartz P, Esserman D, Irwin M, Ferrucci L. Effect of Exercise on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Among Patients Treated for Ovarian Cancer. JAMA Network Open 2023, 6: e2326463. PMID: 37526937, PMCID: PMC10394582, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.26463.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathyAerobic exercise interventionAttention control armExercise intervention armExercise interventionOvarian cancerControl armIntervention armSecondary analysisCIPN symptomsPeripheral neuropathyLifestyle StudyTreatment of CIPNModerate-intensity aerobic exerciseStandard oncology careEffects of exerciseSevere adverse effectsBetween-group differencesAmerican Cancer SocietyQuality of lifeAttention controlCIPN severityPrimary outcomeOncology careAerobic exerciseRandomized trial of exercise on cancer‐related blood biomarkers and survival in women with ovarian cancer
Cartmel B, Li F, Zhou Y, Gottlieb L, Lu L, Mszar R, Harrigan M, Ligibel J, Gogoi R, Schwartz P, Risch H, Irwin M. Randomized trial of exercise on cancer‐related blood biomarkers and survival in women with ovarian cancer. Cancer Medicine 2023, 12: 15492-15503. PMID: 37269192, PMCID: PMC10417064, DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6187.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExercise interventionOvarian cancerTrial of exerciseExercise-induced changesMin/weekGroup differencesSubset of participantsCause mortalityExercise groupOverall survivalStudy armsCA 125Randomized trialsBlood biomarkersBlood drawBreast cancerClinical significanceIGF-1Effect model analysisSecondary analysisBeneficial effectsCancerBiomarkersTrialsWomenDiet and physical activity interventions in Black and Latina women with breast cancer: A scoping review
Pichardo M, Sanft T, Ferrucci L, Romero-Ramos Y, Cartmel B, Harrigan M, Velazquez A, Fayanju O, Winer E, Irwin M. Diet and physical activity interventions in Black and Latina women with breast cancer: A scoping review. Frontiers In Oncology 2023, 13: 1079293. PMID: 36994212, PMCID: PMC10040823, DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1079293.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBreast cancer survivorsPhysical activity interventionsLifestyle interventionCancer survivorsActivity interventionsLatina womenEfficacy trialsBreast cancerLatina breast cancer survivorsTrial of dietOne-year followFavorable behavioral changesBreast cancer diagnosisPrimary outcomeAvailable peer-reviewed literatureFuture trialsInformal care giversPilot trialSustained behavior changeEfficacy studiesHealthful lifestyleCare giversTrialsWeight lossCancer diagnosis
2022
Exercise adherence in a randomized controlled trial of exercise on quality of life in ovarian cancer survivors
Cao A, Cartmel B, Li F, Gottlieb L, Harrigan M, Ligibel J, Gogoi R, Schwartz P, Irwin M, Ferrucci L. Exercise adherence in a randomized controlled trial of exercise on quality of life in ovarian cancer survivors. Journal Of Cancer Survivorship 2022, 17: 535-543. PMID: 36550261, PMCID: PMC10038915, DOI: 10.1007/s11764-022-01325-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOvarian cancer survivorsMin/weekCancer survivorsExercise goalsCancer recurrenceCounseling sessionsSession attendanceExercise adherenceHigher baseline activity levelsWeekly exercise durationTrial of exerciseMean exercise timeVigorous-intensity exerciseBaseline activity levelsQuality of lifeMore counseling sessionsExercise interventionExercise durationWeek exerciseLifestyle StudyExercise timeOvarian cancerNumber of sessionsCounseling intensitySurvivorsRandomized trial of diet and exercise on chemotherapy completion in women with breast cancer: The Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition Early After Diagnosis (LEANer) study.
Sanft T, Harrigan M, Cartmel B, Li F, Zupa M, McGowan C, Ferrucci L, Puklin L, Nguyen T, Tanasijevic A, Neuhouser M, Hershman D, Basen-Engquist K, Jones B, Knobf M, Chagpar A, Silber A, Ligibel J, Irwin M. Randomized trial of diet and exercise on chemotherapy completion in women with breast cancer: The Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition Early After Diagnosis (LEANer) study. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2022, 40: 12007-12007. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2022.40.16_suppl.12007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRelative dose intensityHigh relative dose intensityBreast cancerDose-response effectPhysical activityPA interventionsNeoadjuvant chemotherapyChemotherapy completionDiet qualityStage I breast cancerEndocrine therapy adherenceTrial of dietDifferent chemotherapy regimensI breast cancerBody mass indexPatient-reported outcomesHealthy Eating IndexBetter diet qualityHigh physical activityMore physical activityElectronic medical recordsChi-square testUC participantsChemotherapy regimensSecondary endpoints
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Clinical Care
News
News
- October 07, 2024
Caring for Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Conference for Patients and Caregivers
- August 07, 2023
New Yale Study Shows Aerobic Exercise Relieves Pain for Ovarian Cancer Survivors
- February 19, 2023
Addressing Disparities in Breast Cancer
- November 07, 2022
Smilow Shares Presents: Movember Mondays - Prostate Cancer and Survivorship