Mack Lab
Principal Investigator: Jennifer W Mack
Institution: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston, MA)
Primary Subfield: Genetics/Genomics
Recruitment Status: Inquire for rotation/fellowship opportunities
Research Focus
ABSTRACT More than 14,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year, and >10% have a genetic predisposition to cancer, creating ongoing risk for new cancers during their lifetimes. Yet family- based pediatric models for cancer risk communication are lacking for this growing population of children. Children require unique considerations when communicating cancer risk due to wide variability in developmental and emotional maturity. In addition, many live with devastating personal family histories with prior cancers, family illness, and loss. The goal of this project is to develop, implement and test a family-specific intervention for cancer risk communication, to help children and families live with a diagnosis of genetic cancer risk, engage in life- saving screening, and develop strategies for effective coping. Building on our prior success in developing a cancer risk communication intervention for adolescents and young adults (AYAs), our interdisciplinary team of experts in health communication, cancer genetics, oncology, and pediatric psychology from 4 cancer risk programs will enhance the existing intervention to create Family RISE (Risk In…
Active NIH Awards
- 1R01CA316855-01: Family-centered Risk Information and Screening Education to Support Children with Genetic Cancer Risk (2026)
- 5U01CA218651-07: End-of-life care quality for adolescents and young adults with cancer: Including the patient voice in quality assessment (2026)
- 5R01CA274484-04: Clinical Trial Enrollment among Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer (2026)
- 5P30CA006516-61: Program 10 Cancer Care Delivery Research (2026)
- 2U01CA218651-06A1: End-of-life care quality for adolescents and young adults with cancer: Including the patient voice in quality assessment (2025)
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