As the first nurse postdoctoral fellow trained in bioethics at the National Institutes of Health, Department of Bioethics, Dr. Ulrich's research passion focuses on both clinical and research ethics, and understanding the preferences and goals of cancer patients and their families who participate in cancer clinical trials as they make difficult decisions related to their health and well-being.

Although cancer is prevalent in society, very few cancer patients participate in cancer clinical trials. Cancer clinical trials are essential to improve the care of future cancer patients, both in the short and long term. We found that cancer patients may differ on how they individually weigh the benefits and burdens of research participation and what is important to them. Studying issues related to informed consent and the benefits and burdens of research participation is critical as patients weigh their options and determine what is meaningful to them.