Mission: Our mission is to improve neurocognitive outcomes across the lifespan for individuals with chronic health conditions by utilizing neuroscience techniques to 1) improve our understanding of the brain and 2) promote positive health-related behaviors and greater functional independence.
Our Research: Our research combines multimodality neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessment techniques to improve our understanding of the interplay between brain function and everyday independence and life skills. With this knowledge, our research aims to develop targeted interventions in order to improve neurocognitive functioning for our patients.
The LAUNCH Lab: The Lifespan Applications to Understand NeuroCognition and Health-behaviors (LAUNCH) laboratory is located at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine and is part of the Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship in collaboration with the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/ Oncology, and the Taking on Life After Cancer (TLC) Survivorship Clinic of Children’s of Alabama. Under the mentorship of Dr. Donna Murdaugh, the LAUNCH lab aims to bring together students and professionals across medical and research disciplines to conduct clinical translational studies in order to improve neurocognitive outcomes in patients with cancer and blood disorders. Research focuses include: developing targeted cognitive remediation interventions, improving the transition of care for adolescents and young adults with cancer and blood disorders, and developing risk prediction models for cancer-related neurocognitive deficits.
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