Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas
Karen M. Basen-Engquist, PhD, MPH

Karen M. Basen-Engquist, PhD, MPH

Director, Center for Energy Balance in Cancer Prevention and Survivorship, and Professor, Department of Health Disparities Research
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dr. Basen-Engquist is the Annie Laurie Howard Research Distinguished Professor in the Department of Health Disparities Research and the Director of the Center for Energy Balance in Cancer Prevention and Survivorship at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Her research focuses on cancer survivors and high-risk individuals and investigates the role of health behavior interventions in optimizing quality of life and reducing risk of cancer, cancer recurrence, and other chronic diseases. She also studies behavior change methods with a focus on digital health interventions and implementation of interventions in clinical and community settings.

Dr. Basen-Engquist's research on physical activity for cancer survivors has been translated into Active Living After Cancer, a community program to increase physical activity among minority and medically underserved cancer survivors throughout Texas, and is funded by CPRIT. The program has reached over 1,500 cancer survivors in Texas through its partnership with community organizations in Houston, El Paso, Beaumont, and Tyler. Active Living After Cancer is a project of the Center for Energy Balance in Cancer Prevention and Survivorship, which is working to expand energy balance research at MD Anderson by facilitating collaboration among investigators in basic science, clinical, and population research who study physical activity, nutrition, obesity, and cancer.

Dr. Basen-Engquist is a member of the National Cancer Institute’s Board of Scientific Advisors, has served on the National Cancer Policy Forum of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, and is the past President of the American Society of Preventive Oncology.

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