PEAK Members

Director

Dr. Karen Mustian, PhD, MPH​
Karen_Mustian@urmc.rochester.edu

Dr. Karen Mustian is the Founder and Director of the PEAK Human Performance Science and Clinical Research Lab, Dean’s Professor of Surgery and Oncology, Associate Director for Wilmot Cancer Institute Population Science, Co-Director of the University of Rochester Cancer Center National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Research Base, and Co-Director of Wilmot Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program. Dr. Mustian founded the PEAK Human Performance Science and Clinical Research Lab in 2009. Dr. Mustian is internationally renowned in the fields of behavioral oncology, exercise oncology, and cancer control and survivorship with over 15 years of experience conducting large, multi-center, phase II and III clinical trials to treat toxicities and side effects experienced by cancer patients and survivors. Dr. Mustian has served or is serving as the PI on several local and nationwide randomized clinical trials funded by the NCI, NCCAM, OCCAM, NINR, and DOD. She has been continuously funded since 2004, has been awarded over $61 million in peer-reviewed funding, and has published over 135 peer-reviewed articles. Dr. Mustian has mentored more than 80 undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students as well as 40 junior faculty, 21 of whom received prestigious Career Development Awards from NIH, the American Cancer Society, and the URMC Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

Assistant Director

Dr. Po-Ju Lin, PhD, MPH, RD
Po-ju_Lin@urmc.rochester.edu

Dr. Po-Ju Lin is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Assistant Director of the PEAK Human Performance Science and Clinical Research Lab, and Service Leader of the Wilmot Cancer Institute Human Biophysiology Shared Resource at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Lin received her Ph.D. in Kinesiology and M.P.H. in Human Nutrition at the University of Michigan and completed her postdoctoral training in Supportive Care in Cancer at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Lin is an internationally recognized expert in exercise oncology, behavioral medicine, integrative medicine, supportive cancer care, and survivorship. She has more than 15 years of clinical research experience. Dr. Lin has expertise in clinical trial design, behavioral intervention development and delivery, subjective patient-reported instruments to assess and monitor symptoms, objective activity tracking via 3-axis accelerometers and hybrid physical function assessments incorporating digital health platforms and wearable devices. She has conducted multiple clinical trials using behavioral interventions (e.g., yoga, exercise, health education) for treating cancer- and cancer treatment-related toxicities and symptom management among patients with cancer. Her research has been recognized with multiple outstanding research awards nationally and internationally. She is also an American College of Sports Medicine certified clinical exercise physiologist, a registered dietitian, and a certified yoga instructor.

Senior Program and Lab Manager

Adam Szczupakowski
Adam_Szczupakowski@urmc.rochester.edu

Adam Szczupakowski is an American College of Sports Medicine certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Cancer Exercise Trainer; he manages the PEAK Human Performance Science and Clinical Research Lab. He has more than 6 years in clinical research delivering exercise and behavioral interventions and performing physical function assessments. He is expecting to receive his Master's degree in Exercise Science from the University at Buffalo in June 2024. When not working, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Tricia and son Cameron.

Clinical Trials Manager

Brittany LaVaute, MS
Brittany_LaVaute@urmc.rochester.edu

Brittany LaVaute is a Clinical Trials Manager at PEAK Human Performance Science and Clinical Research Lab. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Hartwick College and her Master’s degree in Exercise Science from SUNY Cortland. She is an American College of Sports Medicine certified Personal Trainer and has experience delivering exercise interventions to clinical populations since 2017. She is working on pilot studies conducted at Wilmot Cancer Institute and the catchment area as well as nationwide clinical trials conducted at URCC NCORP Research Base. In her free time, Brittany enjoys hiking, running, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Postdoctoral Associate

Alisha Chakrabarti, PhD
Alisha_Chakrabarti@urmc.rochester.edu

Alisha Chakrabarti is a Postdoctoral Associate at PEAK Human Performance Science and Clinical Research Lab. She obtained her PhD in Biology in 2015 from Singapore and went on teaching Yoga full time for 7 years until she joined PEAK Human Performance Science and Clinical Research Lab where she could use her combined skillset to strive towards better care for patients with cancer. She is an American College of Sports Medicine certified Exercise Physiologist and works with cancer patients and survivors in the ReNEW Program at Pluta Integrative Oncology Center. She is also involved with local and nationwide Clinical Trials especially focused on yoga therapy for cancer patients. On her time off you will find her scaling rocks outdoors (when the weather permits!) with her friends.