HOPE LAB
HOPE Lab Research
Multi-institutional Clinical Trial: NutriCare
NutriCare is a multi-institutional clinical trial testing a proactive approach to addressing malnutrition among lung cancer patients undergoing active treatment. Together with investigators at Tufts Medical Center, Fox Chase Cancer Center, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, members of HOPE Lab at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center are conducting a randomized controlled trial with the aim to develop, implement, and evaluate the efficacy of an innovative intervention strategy integrating nutrition into oncology care for vulnerable cancer patients. This trial harnesses the power of the provider-patient relationship to improve nutrition through early support with a personalized nutrition prescription, nutrition counseling from Registered Dietitians trained in Motivational Interviewing, and medical nutrition therapy, and the provision of medically tailored meals to newly-diagnosed patients with lung cancer. This research aims to evaluate the efficacy of NutriCare in optimizing nutritional status, reducing treatment-related toxicities, and improving quality of life for vulnerable cancer patients.
Childhood Obesity and Cancer Prevention: Summer Harvest Adventure
Based on results from Growing Healthy Kids, HOPE Lab expanded programming for childhood obesity and cancer prevention through the development and implementation of a large, 3-year randomized controlled trial. The resulting 10-week program, Summer Harvest Adventure, is a garden-based biobehavioral intervention based on the USDA Great Garden Detective curriculum that encourages a plant-focused dietary pattern and adequate physical activity for child and adult caregiver dyads.
Pilot Maintenance Study: Nutrition and Exercise Trial (NExT)
HOPE Lab extended our intervention to pilot a six-month self-management and weight maintenance program in NExT. Intensive intervention components were tapered over the maintenance phase to encourage self-monitoring behaviors and independent self-management. Findings included clinically meaningful improvements in dietary patterns, including significant increases in diet quality, vegetable intakes, and carotenoid levels, and significant decreases in energy intake after the six-month intervention. Quality of life, functional status, BMI, body composition, blood pressure, and lipoprotein profiles were also improved. Importantly, these improvements were maintained at 12 months after completion of the six-month maintenance phase. These findings contribute to the considerable preliminary evidence demonstrating HOPE Lab’s intensive theory- and evidence-based weight maintenance intervention results in significant, clinically meaningful, improvements in protective behavioral patterns, cancer-related biomarkers of health, functional status, and quality of life in adult survivors of cancer affected by overweight and obesity.
Child Feasibility Pilot: Growing Healthy Kids
Aligning with the goal of HOPE Lab to improve modifiable lifestyle behaviors to reduce the risk for the development of obesity and cancer, we adapted our intervention for delivery to families residing in low-resource communities. This 10-week pilot study was developed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a theory and evidence-based summer program for low-resource families. Results indicated that comprehensive garden-based interventions for low-resource families are feasible and acceptable. This was demonstrated by high attendance and engagement, and surveys showing improvements in MyPlate utilization, confidence in ability to eat healthy on a budget, family exposure to new foods, and adventurous eating among the family. These findings led HOPE Lab to the next intervention, Summer Harvest Adventure.
Adult Feasibility Pilot: Harvesting Health
Harvesting Health was a single-arm trial designed to test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of HOPE Lab’s intensive, theory-based multi-component intervention for improving adherence to cancer preventive guidelines among survivors of cancer. Participants reported high adherence to and satisfaction with the intervention. Further, significant improvements in participant dietary patterns, specifically, increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and decreased consumption of red meat, processed meats, and sugar-sweetened beverages, were demonstrated. Significant improvements in skin carotenoid levels, fasting blood glucose, and non-HDL cholesterol were observed as well. Results supported feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy, providing evidence for improved adherence to evidence-based guidelines for cancer prevention and survivorship. These findings led HOPE Lab to the next intervention, Growing HOPE.
