Millions of caregivers of individuals living with cancer in the U.S. face significant burden and debilitating stress. To address these needs, two UF researchers were selected for the first cohort of a National Cancer Institute program aimed at expanding caregiver support in cancer centers across the nation.
Caregivers are typically family members or loved ones who take on their role with little to no support or training. They often sacrifice their own healthcare needs and experience high levels of distress, which can be detrimental to their well-being.
Creating a culture of “care to the carer” is critical to support their needs as they care for patients and could provide relief and reduce burdens on the overall health system by keeping caregivers healthy.
Starting the Training
In February, two members of UF Health Cancer Institute will begin their 10-month training program with INCITE (INcreasing Caregiver support Implementation through Training and Education). Carla L. Fisher, Ph.D. a behavioral scientist with a clinical social work background, has teamed with Deidre B. Pereira, Ph.D., a psycho-oncologist.
Fisher and Pereira have spent their research careers developing interventions and implementing psychosocial support for caregivers and their loved ones coping with cancer. Fisher is faculty in the College of Medicine’s Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, and Pereira is with the College of Public Health and Health Professions’ Department of Clinical and Health Psychology.
Meeting in Alabama
In May, the program’s trainees will meet for a two-day workshop at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, led by internationally renowned caregiving clinician-scientists. The program is funded by NCI/NIH with collaborating organizations, including the Center to Advance Palliative Care, American Cancer Society, The John A. Hartford Foundation, and the National Alliance for Caregiving.
Earlier this year, Fisher was awarded a 2026 Faculty Enhancement Opportunity to develop a proposal to create and implement a caregiver support program for the UF Health Cancer Institute. She is using that award to dedicate time to the caregiver dilemma, which included applying to the INCITE program.
Fisher hopes to build a caregiver support program that provides mental health assessments and treatment, psychosocial services and education, and connects caregivers with research including enrollment in clinical trials that they may benefit from.