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Tara Albrecht

Associate Professor in the School of Nursing
School of Nursing
307 Trent Dr, DUMC 3322, Durham, NC 27710
307 Trent Dr, DUMC 3322, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Dr. Albrecht is an acute care nurse practitioner, certified advanced hospice and palliative nurse and a nurse scientist who has devoted her practice and research to the oncology and palliative care populations. She received a BS in Biology from the University of Massachusetts in Boston. Her BSN, MSN and PhD are all from the University of Virginia. She also completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Interdisciplinary Training of Nurse Scientists in Cancer Survivorship Research from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing. 

Dr. Albrecht's program of research is focused on symptoms, distress, associated biological signatures and the relationship to patient-reported health outcomes in adults with cancer and specifically those with hematologic malignancies such as acute leukemia. She has begun developing and testing early supportive and palliative care interventions for adults with acute leukemia. Her research also extends to explore how the diagnosis of acute leukemia impacts the family caregivers. She works with an interdisciplinary team of scientists and clinicians with the shared goal of advancing symptom science to ultimately ameliorate symptoms and improve patient-reported outcomes for adults and their families in oncology and palliative care settings.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor in the School of Nursing · 2022 - Present School of Nursing
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2019 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

Recent Publications


Pilot Testing of Build StaMINA: A Tailored Physical Activity Program for Adults Receiving Treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Journal Article Cancer nursing · September 2024 BackgroundAcute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive and often debilitating cancer for adults across the treatment trajectory. Patients experience frequent hospitalization, sedentariness, and negative sequelae including physical dysfunction and ... Full text Cite

Digital Health Innovations to Promote Physical Activities in Patients with Cancer.

Journal Article Stud Health Technol Inform · July 24, 2024 This study evaluates the Exercise Planning and Tracking (EPT) tool, a digital health solution, designed to enhance physical activity (PA) in patients with cancer. Utilizing a tailored PA database, the tool aids in tracking and planning exercises and monito ... Full text Link to item Cite

The association between the gut microbiome and fatigue in individuals living with cancer: a systematic review.

Journal Article Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · April 2024 PurposeFatigue is the most distressing symptom for individuals with cancer. While numerous studies have investigated biological pathways that could underlie the mechanism of fatigue, the cause of fatigue remains unclear. This review aimed to inves ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Exploring the Relationship Between the Oral Microbiome and Fatigue in Individuals with Breast Cancer: A Longitudinal Study

FellowshipCo-Sponsor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2026

Testing a Nurse-Led Evidence-Based Exercise Program to Improve Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Acute Leukemia

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Oncology Nursing Society Foundation · 2020 - 2022

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of Virginia · 2011 Ph.D.