Grantee: Justin C. Brown, PhD

Justin C. Brown, PhD

Organization:

• Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Current Title
Associate Professor in Cancer Energetics

Describe your scientific identity.
I am a clinical epidemiologist conducting research to understand how physical activity, optimal nutrition, and weight management prevent the development and progression of cancer.

What are your research interests?
My primary research interests include understanding the biology of lifestyle on cancer prevention and control outcomes using innovative observational methods and clinical trial designs.

What is the significance of your current research project?
This current research project will enable the scientific community to understand if physical activity can reduce the amount of fat stored within skeletal muscle tissue in cancer survivors. We have previously reported that cancer survivors with excess fat within skeletal muscle tissue are more likely to die from cancer and more likely to develop other health conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

What motivated you to work in health behaviors research?
Potentially modifiable lifestyle factors account for up to 40% of all incident cancers and 45% of all cancer deaths in the United States. I believe that patients deserve to know how the choices they make outside the walls of the cancer center impact how they feel, function, and survive.

Describe something that had a profound influence on your program of research or scientific interests (an "ah-ha!" moment).
The people with whom I am fortunate to have been trained by, and now work with, have had the most profound influence on my research program and scientific interests. My current and former mentors, colleagues, trainees, and the patients I serve all inspire me to think creatively about how to advance the field in the most meaningful manner.

Selected training, awards, and honors:

• NIH Office of Disease Prevention Early-Stage Investigator Award (2017)

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