Michelle C. Janelsins-Benton, Ph.D.

Contact Information

Phone Numbers

Administrative: (585) 275-5513

Office: (585) 276-4656

Fax: (585) 461-5601

Research Labs

Cancer Control & Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory

Visit Cancer Control & Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory Lab Website

Locations

University of Rochester Medical Center
School of Medicine and Dentistry
601 Elmwood Ave, Box CU420658
Rochester, NY 14642

Faculty Appointments

Associate Professor - Department of Surgery , Cancer Control (SMD)
Chief - Department of Surgery , Cancer Control (SMD)

Biography

Research

Dr. Janelsins' research primarily focuses on understanding clinical, psychological, and biological contributors of cancer-related cognitive decline and on interventions to alleviate cancer-related cognitive decline involving randomized clinical trials, longitudinal studies, and animal modeling. Several of her research projects in this area has been funded by NIH/NCI including an NIH Director’s New Innovator Award for translating pre-clinical cognitive models of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment in murine models to assessment of cognitive function using neuroscience-based methods in one of the largest nationwide cohort studies characterizing this important clinical problem.

Dr. Janelsins is Division Chief of Supportive Care in Cancer in the Department of Surgery. She is also Chair of Cancer Control Research for the URCC NCORP Research Base and Director of the URCC NCORP Biobank. She is also Co-Chair of the NCI Symptom Management and Quality of Life Steering Committee and a member of the NIH CSR Advisory Council. Dr. Janelsins also co-directs an NCI T32 Clinical and Translational Cancer Control Research Training Program at University of Rochester, which is in its 19th year. She is a passionate mentor to numerous scientists and clinician-scientist junior investigators from multiple disciplines.

Credentials

Education

2002
BS | Ursinus College
Biology

2005
MS | University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
Microbiology and Immunology

2008
PhD | University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
Microbiology and Immunology

2013
MPH | University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
Public Health

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

2008 - 2011
Behavioral Medicine Unit, Cancer Control Program, James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, University of Rochester Medical Center, Training areas: Behavioral Science, Cancer Control, Neuropsychology

Awards

2020
Fellow, Society of Behavioral Medicine

2019
Society of Behavioral Medicine Leadership Institute

2017
Best of Journal of Clinical Oncology
Sponsor: ASCO

2014
NIH Director's New Innovator Award
Sponsor: NIH

2014
Citation Award
Sponsor: Society of Behavioral Medicine

2013 - 2018
NCI K07 Career Development Award
Sponsor: NCI

2013
MASCC Outstanding Young Investigator of the Year Award
Sponsor: Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer

2011 - Present
NCI Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program Award

2011
ASPO New Investigator Award

2011
Markey Cancer Center and NCI International Conference on the Side Effects of Cancer Research Abstract Award

2010
Highest Ranked Abstract Award for the Annual Meeting of ASPO
Sponsor: American Society of Preventive Oncology

2010
Distinguished Fellow, NIH Institute on Design & Conduct of Randomized Controlled Trials Involving Behavioral Interventions
Sponsor: OBSSR

2009
First Prize Poster Award
Location: American Society for Preventive Oncology

2009
Research Abstract Award
Sponsor: Society of Behavioral Medicine

2008 - 2011
NCI Cancer Control Fellowship Award

2008
First Prize Poster Award in Cancer Control/Epidemiology
Sponsor: James P. Wilmot Cancer Center

2006
Outstanding Abstract Award
Sponsor: Keystone: Alzheimer's Disease Meeting

2005 - 2008
Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA)
Sponsor: NINDS

2005
Scholarship
Sponsor: Pathogenesis of Neuroimmunologic Diseases
Location: Marine Biological Laboratory

2004
Melville Hare Award for Excellence in Teaching
Sponsor: University of Rochester

2001
Summer Scholars Fellowship/Grant
Sponsor: Howard Hughes, Ursinus College

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Publications

Journal Articles

5/30/2023
Loh KP, Sanapala C, Jensen-Battaglia M, Rana A, Sohn MB, Watson E, Gilmore N, Klepin HD, Mendler JH, Liesveld J, Huselton E, LoCastro M, Susiarjo M, Netherby-Winslow C, Williams AM, Mustian K, Vertino P, Janelsins MC. "Exercise and epigenetic ages in older adults with myeloid malignancies." European journal of medical research.. 2023 May 30; 28(1):180. Epub 2023 May 30.

2023
Hardy SJ, Bandyopadhyay S, Yang H, Williams A, Gudina A, Cummings MA, Zhang H, Singh DP, Chen Y, Mohile NA, Janelsins MC, Milano MT. "Stroke death in patients receiving radiation for head and neck cancer in the modern era." Frontiers in oncology.. 2023 13:1111764. Epub 2023 Jun 15.

8/30/2022
Kleckner AS, Reschke JE, Kleckner IR, Magnuson A, Amitrano AM, Culakova E, Shayne M, Netherby-Winslow CS, Czap S, Janelsins MC, Mustian KM, Peppone LJ. "The Effects of a Mediterranean Diet Intervention on Cancer-Related Fatigue for Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial." Cancers.. 2022 Aug 30; 14(17)Epub 2022 Aug 30.

Books & Chapters

2012
Book Title: Psychological Aspects of Cancer
Author List: Mustian, K. M.; Sprod, L.K., Janelsins, M.C., Peppone, L.J., Carroll, J., Mohile, S.G., Palesh, O.G.
Edited By: B. Carr and J. Steel
Published By: Springer 2012 in New York, NY

2008
Chapter Title: Application to gene therapy and vaccination.
Book Title: Neuroimmune Pharmacology
Author List: Bowers, W.J., Janelsins, M.C., and Federoff, H.J.
Published By: Springer, New York, NY 2008

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