LEXINGTON, Ky. — A University of Kentucky researcher has been named to the Biden administration’s inaugural cohort of Cancer Moonshot Scholars in an effort to spur cancer research and advances in treatment.
Laurie McLouth, PhD, a researcher at UK’s College of Medicine, will join the class of 11 scholars from across the country. McLouth is a clinical psychologist who focuses on cancer care. Her research is testing the effectiveness of a new intervention to help improve mental health and quality of life during advanced lung cancer treatment.
McLouth serves as an assistant professor in the University of Kentucky's College of Medicine's Department of Behavioral Science, Markey Cancer Center and Center for Health Equity Transformation. She joined the UK faculty in 2019.
“I am honored to be recognized as a Cancer Moonshot Scholar,” McLouth said. “The program demonstrates the transformative potential of diverse research perspectives in combating cancer across all stages of the cancer care continuum.”
Her research project will be on “Pathways," which she describes as “a brief, hope-based intervention that focuses on helping patients pursue personally meaningful goals during cancer treatment to support their mental health and quality of life while undergoing treatment for advanced lung cancer.”
McLouth says the intent is to bring more attention to people’s strengths and give them space to talk about what matters most to them during illness.
She joins doctors and researchers from some of the nation’s premier universities who are working to make progress in prostate, pancreatic, liver, lung, cervical, brain and rectal cancers.
The White House said the program will pump $5.4 million dollars through the National Cancer Institute into cancer research and innovation, with projects to increase prevention and early detection, create new cancer treatments and address hard-to-treat cancers.
“The Cancer Moonshot Scholars program is an important investment in cancer research and advances that can deliver hope for cancer patients across the nation,” said Deputy Assistant to the President for the Cancer Moonshot Dr. Danielle Carnival. “Mobilizing toward the two goals set by the president and the first lady — preventing cancer deaths and improving the patient experience — requires supporting a new generation of talented researchers bringing diverse perspectives from all across America.”
The Cancer Moonshot Scholars program is designed to support early-career scientists, researchers and innovators from diverse backgrounds, including from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral and social sciences research workforce. The Biden administration intends to fund up to 30 additional Cancer Moonshot Scholars by 2025, with the next application period closing in Feb. 2024.
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