Press and Announcements
4/22-4/25: Drs. Jessica LaRose and Autumn Lanoye attended the annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine in Chicago, IL. Read more here.
3/21/2026: Drs. Jessica LaRose and Autumn Lanoye attended and presented at the Closing the Gap Summit, co-sponsored by the VA-ACCERT Project, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University. Read more and see photos here.
3/4/2026: We held a WE Celebration marking the conclusion of the Wellness Engagement Petersburg trial, and reported the study findings to our Wellness Ambassadors and participants. Read more and see photos here.
3/2/2026: We kicked off team training for POWER during a visit to Old Dominion University. Read more here.
2/25/2026: Karly Casanave-Phillips accepted a new role as Senior Research Scientist.
2/24/2026: Joanne Torres joined the team as a Research Assistant.
2/3/2026: Aleah Newton joined the team as a Clinical Research Assistant.
1/22/2026: Namitha Kapa joined the team as a Research Assistant.
1/14/2026: Dr. Chloé Jones receives VCU's Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA).
11/15/2025: Dr. Karly Casanave-Phillips presented at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center's Commonwealth of Virginia Cancer Research Conference (CVCRC).
11/7/2025: Dr. Karly Casanave-Phillips' abstract, "Moving Beyond BMI: Waist Circumference and Body Fat as Risk Indicators in Behavioral Obesity Treatment," selected as a Research Spotlight for the 2026 Society of Behavioral Medicine annual meeting.
09/17/2025: Drs. Chloé Jones and Karly Casanave-Phillips featured for National Postdoc Appreciation week.
07/19/2025: Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center's Closing the Gap Summit was planned and attended by VA-ACCERT leadership.
06/09/2025: Dr. Autumn Lanoye appointed to VCU Faculty Senate.
03/01/2025: Dr. Chloé Jones receives a Community-Engaged Dissemination Grant from VCU's Division of Community Engagement to utilize non-traditional methods for the dissemination of results from the WE Project in Petersburg.
02/17/2025: VA-ACCERT center is featured in Richmond Magazine: An Effort for Equity: A pioneering cancer research project takes off in the region.
01/01/2025: $9 Million Grant Secured to Establish Cancer Control Equity Research Center.
12/13/2024: New VA-ACCERT Center will be co-led by Dr. LaRose: VCU awarded $9M from NCI to establish Cancer Control Equity Research Center.
09/01/2024: Dr. Autumn Lanoye joins the School of Public Health as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
10/23/2024: Dr. Jessica LaRose receives the Mentor of the Year Award from the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Young Adult Special Interest Group.
07/01/2024: Dr. Chloé Jones joins the lab as a postdoctoral fellow following completion of her doctoral degree in Kinesiology at Auburn University.
06/18/2024: Welcome to Christina La Rosa, our newest lab member and Clinical Research Associate assisting with HEAL and Redefining BMI!
04/01/2024: Welcome to Janai Anderson, our newest lab member and Community Research Coordinator on the Wellness Engagement (WE) Petersburg study!
02/01/2024: Congratulations to Dr. Karly Casanave-Phillips on being admitted to the T32 Cancer Prevention and Control-Cancer Health Equity (CPC-CHE) training program at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center!
10/21/2023: Lab alumna, Dr. Kristal Brown named one of VCU’s Top 10 Under 10
10/01/2023: Huge congratulations to lab Associate Director, Dr. Autumn Lanoye, who was awarded an ACS-IRG grant to develop and test an anti-inflammatory lifestyle intervention for emerging adult cancer survivors
08/07/2023: Celebrating lab alumna, Dr. Jean Reading who was awarded the NIH Loan Repayment Program!
07/01/2023: Dr. Karly Casanave-Phillips joins the lab as a postdoctoral fellow following completion of her doctoral degree in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology at West Virginia University.
05/15/2023: Congratulations to lab Director, Dr. Jessica LaRose on her promotion to Full Professor!
04/28/2023: Kudos to alumna, Dr. Kristal Brown for receiving the SBM Health Equity SIG Early Career Award!
04/27/2023: Lab PI, Dr. Jessica LaRose is named a Fellow of the Society for Behavioral Medicine
04/01/2023: Dr. Jessica LaRose and Dr. Carmina Valle receive NCI funding to conduct a multi-site clinical trial testing the efficacy of an mHealth lifestyle intervention for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors
03/24/2023: Dr. LaRose receives Outstanding Mentor of the Year Award at the annual Massey Cancer Prevention and Control Retreat for “supporting, encouraging, and promoting a positive and inclusive academic training environment”
03/01/2023: Congratulations to lab Associate Director, Dr. Autumn Lanoye for her promotion to Assistant Professor!
12/06/2022: Dr. LaRose attends the AAMC Women Faculty Mid-Career Leadership Development Seminar in Indian Wells, CA
09/29/2022: Dr. LaRose invited to attend the historic Biden-Harris White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition & Health
06/04/2022: Press releases regarding VITAL trial outcomes, WW International: WW announces study results showing clinically significant improvements for people living with diabetes on customized program and Medical XPress: Custom program helps people living with diabetes control blood sugar, weight
05/14/2022: Congratulations to Dr. Jean Reading on her graduation
04/22/2022: Jean Reading successfully defends her dissertation!
12/11/2021: Dr. Kristal Brown and Dr. Brandi Galloway walk at commencement
11/20/2021: Jean Reading presents her dissertation results at the Commonwealth of Virginia Cancer Research Conference and wins 2nd place in the Cancer Prevention and Control Abstract Awards
09/14/2021: Dr. Autumn Lanoye gives a talk on Cancer-Related Cognitive Changes via Massey's Facebook Live
06/29/2021: Dr. Autumn Lanoye gives a talk on Sleep Throughout the Cancer Experience via Massey's Facebook Live
06/01/2021: Dr. Autumn Lanoye accepts a Research Scientist position in VCU Massey's Survivorship Program
05/25/2021: Clinical trial tests new lifestyle program aimed at addressing obesity in young men
08/25/2020: OPT for Health welcomes its newest lab member, Justin Guan!
08/24/2020: Congratulations to Dr. Kristal Brown and Dr. Brandi Galloway on their graduation!
05/03/2020: Brown Girl Narratives is an Ode to Black Women
04/27/2020: VCU News coverage of Kristal Brown's dissertation and community project
04/05/2020: Jean Reading is selected as a predoctoral fellow for the NCI-funded T32 training program in cancer prevention and control