Karen M. Emmons, PhD

Harvard T.H. Chan School Of Public Health

Academic Titles

Professor, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School Of Public Health

Research Program Affiliation

Member, Cancer Risk, Prevention, and Early Detection

Member, Cancer Care Delivery Research

Research Abstract

I am a Professor of Social and Behavioral Science at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. I am a behavioral scientist with a strong track record of funded research in community-based approaches to cancer prevention in a variety of settings that serve disadvantaged populations, including low income housing and community health centers. My work targets a range of cancer risk factors, including nutrition, physical activity, sun exposure, tobacco and second-hand smoke exposure, and cancer screening. My research teams have included interdisciplinary perspectives on cancer risk reduction and health disparities, with a focus on multiple cancer risk behaviors and implementation of evidence-based interventions. I have a strong track record as a leader of large research grants, and as a mentor. I am a past recipient of a mid-career K award (1K05 CA124415-02, Dissemination Research to Reduce Cancer Disparities). My current work and writing focuses heavily on implementation science, particularly in community health settings, and I have been actively involved in national efforts to develop implementation research and training programs. Over my career, I received over $40M in research funding as PI from NIH, and supported about $20M in research grants as a co-PI or co-investigator. In 2013 I transitioned to full-time academic administrative positions; in September, 2018 I returned to my passion - community-based implementation research—and am currently rebuilding my research portfolio I currently serve as the Faculty Director of the Community Engagement Program for Harvard’s Clinical Translational Science Award, and which focuses on advancing evidence-based strategies to improve community health. I am the multi-PI of our recently renewed Cancer Prevention and Control Training Grant. I also serve on the Steering Committee for NCI’s Consortium for Implementation Science in Cancer (CISC), and on faculty for the Training Institute in Dissemination and Implementation Research in Cancer (TIDIRC).