Dr. Karishma Chhabria Unrue , an assistant professor of public health at the University of West Florida (UWF), has been awarded an approximately $825,000 grant from the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund. The funding will fuel "Move & Nourish Florida," a statewide initiative designed to improve health outcomes for breast and prostate cancer survivors.
This grant is among the largest externally funded research awards ever received by an assistant professor within the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health.
"This award reflects the community-focused research conducted within the college and Dr. Chhabria Unrue's leadership." – Dr. Shelley Diviney, Interim Dean
Program Details
"Move & Nourish Florida" is a lifestyle intervention focused on three core pillars:
- Nutrition
- Physical Activity
- Stress Management
Participants will receive personalized support from healthcare professionals, with the program designed to be practical and accessible for survivors.
Collaborative Research
The project is a cross-disciplinary effort involving multiple UWF departments, including:
- Public Health
- Movement Sciences
- Social Work
- Nursing
- Medical Lab Sciences
- Computational Statistics and Data Analytics Lab
Community partners include Health and Hope Clinic, Community Health NorthWest Florida, and the Florida Department of Health.
Background
Breast and prostate cancer survivors frequently face lasting physical and emotional challenges, along with an elevated risk for chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. This intervention aims to directly address these ongoing health risks.
"This funding allows us to translate research into action by working directly with cancer survivors and communities, developing evidence-based approaches that can be implemented across Florida." – Dr. Karishma Chhabria Unrue
Building on a Foundation
The project builds on the work of the IMPACT Lab, which Dr. Chhabria Unrue founded and directs. The Florida Cancer Innovation Fund was created by the Florida Legislature in 2024 as part of the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program.