Dr Schlechter Named Cancer Moonshot Scholar

Chelsey Schlechter, MPH, PhD, Huntsman Cancer Institute investigator and assistant professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Utah (the U), has been selected as a 2024 Cancer Moonshot Scholar.

Schlechter is one of only eleven researchers in the U.S. chosen for the prestigious program this year, which aims to both advance impactful cancer research and broaden the research workforce.

For the project, Schlechter and her team partnered with the Association for Utah Community Health and Utah Community Health Centers—organizations which aim to provide health care to historically marginalized populations—to test strategies to connect patients to evidence-based weight management programs. Better enrollment in these types of programs will contribute to cancer prevention, according to Schlechter. At least 13 types of cancer are related to obesity, per an expert report of the International Agency of Research in Cancer.

“I am incredibly lucky to collaborate with such great community partners, and this award will help further our joint mission to prevent cancer,” says Schlechter. “We also have the chance to answer impactful research questions and improve the health of populations that have been historically marginalized and often have limited access to these important preventive interventions.”

Schlechter and her team will use electronic health records, proactive outreach over text message, and patient navigation to enroll patients in digital weight management programs.