Kirsten K. Ness, PT, PhD, FAPTA
Kirsten K. Ness, PT, PhD, FAPTA

Kirsten K. Ness, PT, PhD, FAPTA

Member, St. Jude Faculty

  • PI, Human Performance Lab
  • Co-Leader, Cancer Control and Survivorship Program
  • Endowed Chair in Cancer Survivorship

Departments

Education

BA – College of St. Scholastica (1983)
MA – Augsburg College (1998)
MPH – University of Minnesota (2002)
PhD – University of Minnesota (2004)

Honors and Awards

  • 2023 Gaylord Anderson Leadership Award, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
  • 2021 Cancer Rehabilitation Distinguished Lectureship, American College of Rehabilitation Medicine
  • 2020 Helen J. Hislop Award for Outstanding Contributions to Professional Literature American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
  • 2019 Team Science Award, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
  • 2015 Catherine Worthingham Fellow, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
  • 2012 Research Award, Oncology Section, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
  • 2011 Elected Member, Society for Pediatric Research
  • 2003 PODS I Scholarship, Foundation for Physical Therapy
  • 1979 – 1983 Benedictine Scholar, College of St. Scholastica

Clinical Interests

  • Physical Therapy
  • Frailty
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation

Research Interests

  • Clinical and population measurement of physical performance and disability
  • Exercise, physical activity and dietary intervention to prevent and remediate frail health
  • Accelerated aging in cancer survivors
  • Analysis of epidemiologic data

Current Research

  • Establishment of a Lifetime Cohort of Adults Surviving Childhood Cancer, Co-Principal Investigator
  • Remote Exercise Intervention for Survivors of Childhood Cancer with Exercise Intolerance, Co-Principal Investigator
  • Web-based Physical Activity Intervention for Children with Cancer, Principal Investigator
  • Longitudinal Assessment of Frailty in Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer, Principal Investigator
  • Aerobic Training Intervention for Children with Newly Diagnosed Medulloblastoma, Principal Investigator
  • Low Magnitude Stimulation to Prevent Bone Loss in Children with ALL, Principal Investigator
  • A Placebo-Controlled Intervention Trial for Frailty and Senescence, Co-Investigator
  • Functional Outcomes in Children Treated with Proton Beam Radiotherapy, Co-Investigator
  • Sleep Apnea in Survivors of Childhood Cancer Treated with Thoracic Radiation, Co-Investigator 
  • The Pro-Inflammatory Effects of Acute Exercise in Children with Sickle Cell Anemia, Co-Investigator
  • Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, Executive Committee
  • Patient-Reported Outcomes Version of the CTCAE for Childhood Cancer Survivors, Co-Investigator 

Ness Clinical Research Profile

Contact Information

Kirsten K. Ness, PT, PhD, FAPTA Epidemiology and Cancer Control MS 735 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105-3678

St. Jude Faculty List

Related Topics

Clinical Trials

News Releases

All recent releases

Selected Publications

Ware ME, Kadan-Lottick NS, Devidas M, Terrell S, Chow EJ, Ehrhardt MJ, Hardy KK, Chemaitilly W, Hein W, Winick N, Teachey D, Esbenshade A, Armenian SH, Partin RE, Ness KK. Design and methods of a randomized web-based physical activity intervention among children with cancer: A report from the Children’s Oncology Group. Contemp Clin Trials Oct 10;122:106961, 2022. PMID: 36228982

Partin R, Wogksch MD, Dhaduk R, Ashford JM, Indelicato DJ, Conklin HM, Merchant TE, Ness KK. Physical function, body mass index, and fitness outcomes in children, adolescents, and emerging adults with craniopharyngioma from proton therapy through five years of follow-up. J Neurooncol Sep;159(3):713-723, 2022. PMID: 35987949

Goodenough CG, Diouf B, Yang W, Sapkota Y, Finch ER, Lu L, Partin RE, Wogksch MD, Hudson MM, Robison LL, Wang Z, Jeha S, Evans WE, Ness KK. Association between CEP72 genotype and persistent neuropathy in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia Apr;36(4):1160-1163, 2022. PMID: 34980876

McCastlain K, Howell CR, Welsh CE, Wang Z, Wilson CL, Mulder HL, Easton J, Mertens AC, Zhang J, Yasui Y, Hudson MM, Robison LL, Kundu M, Ness KK. The association of mitochondrial copy number with sarcopenia in adult survivors of childhood cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst Nov 2;113(11):1570-1580, 2021. PMID: 33871611

Delaney A, Howell CR, Krull KR, Brinkman TM, Armstrong GT, Chemaitilly W, Wilson CL, Mulrooney DA, Wang Z, Lanctot JQ, Johnson RE, Krull MR, Partin RE, Shelton KC, Srivastava DK, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Ness KK. Progression of Frailty in Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Report. J Natl Cancer Inst Oct 1;113(10):1415-1421, 2021. PMID: 33720359

Bjornard KL, Howell CR, Klosky JL, Chemaitilly W, Srivastava DK, Brinkman TM, Green DM, Willard VW, Jacola LM, Krasin MJ, Hudson MM, Robison LL, Ness KK. Psychosexual functioning of female childhood cancer survivors: A report From the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study. J Sex Med Oct;17(10):1981-1994, 2020. PMID: 32723681

Varedi M, Lu L, Phillips NS, Partin RE, Brinkman TM, Armstrong GT, Chase E, Khan RB, Powell D, McKenna RF, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Ness KK. Balance impairment in survivors of pediatric brain cancers: Risk factors and associated physical limitations. J Cancer Surviv Apr;15(2):311-324, 2021. PMID: 32895869

Wilson CL, Liu W, Chemaitilly W, Howell CR, Srivastava DK, Howell RM, Hudson MM, Robison LL, Ness KK. Body composition, metabolic health and functional impairment among adults treated for abdominal and pelvic tumors during childhood. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Aug 13;29(9):1750-1758, 2020. PMID: 32796078

Hayek S, Brinkman TM, Plana JC, Joshi VM, Leupker RV, Durand JB, Green DM, Partin RE, Santucci AK, Howell RM, Srivastava DK, Hudson MM, Robison LL, Armstrong GT, Ness KK. Association of exercise intolerance with emotional distress, attainment of social roles, and health-related quality of life among adult survivors of childhood cancer. JAMA Oncol Aug 1;6(8):1194-1202, 2020. PMID: 32584369

Bishop MW, Ness KK, Li C, Liu W, Srivastava DK, Chemaitilly W, Krull KR, Green DM, Pappo AS, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Mulrooney DA. Cumulative burden of chronic health conditions in adult survivors of osteosarcoma and Ewing Sarcoma: A report from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Aug;29(8):1627-1638, 2020. PMID: 32499311

Christoffersen L, Gibson TM, Pui CH, Joshi V, Partin RE, Green DM, Lanctot JQ, Howell CR, Mulrooney DA, Armstrong GT, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Ness KK. Cardiac autonomic dysfunction in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: The St. Jude Lifetime Cohort study. Pediatr Blood Cancer Jul;67(7):e28388, 2020. PMID: 32383821

Barlow-Krelina E, Chen Y, Yasui Y, Till C, Gibson TM, Ness KK, Leisenring WM, Howell RM, Nathan PC, Oeffinger KC, Robison LL, Armstrong GT, Krull KR, Edelstein K. Consistent physical activity and future neurocognitive problems in adult survivors of childhood cancers: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor study. J Clin Oncol Jun 20;38(18):2041-2052, 2020. PMID: 32330104

Krull MR, Howell CR, Partin RE, Lanctot J, Phipps S, Klosky JL, Carney G, Mulrooney DA, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Ness KK. Protein supplementation and resistance training in childhood cancer survivors. Med Sci Sports Exerc Oct;52(10):2069-2077, 2020. PMID: 32229771

DeFeo BM, Kaste SC, Li Z, Brinkman TM, Neel MD, Srivastava DK, Hudson MM, Robison LL, Karol SE, Ness KK. Long-term functional outcomes among childhood survivors of cancer who have a history of osteonecrosis. Phys Ther Mar 10;100(3):509-522, 2020. PMID: 32044966

Williams HE, Howell CR, Chemaitilly W, Wilson CL, Karol SE, Nolan VG, Smeltzer MP, Green DM, Ehrhardt MJ, Mulrooney DA, Pui CH, Hudson MM, Robison LL, Ness KK. Diabetes mellitus among adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A report from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study. Cancer Feb 15;126(4):870-878, 2020. PMID: 31714590

Phillips NS, Howell CR, Lanctot JQ, Partin RE, Pui CH, Hudson MM, Robison LL, Krull KR, Ness KK. Physical fitness and neurocognitive outcomes in adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A report from the St. Jude Lifetime cohort. Cancer Feb 1;126(3):640-648, 2020. PMID: 31631333

Hayek S, Gibson TM, Leisenring WM, Guida JL, Gramatges MM, Lupo PJ, Howell RM, Oeffinger KC, Bhatia S, Edelstein K, Hudson MM, Robison LL, Nathan PC, Yasui Y, Krull KR, Armstrong GT, Ness KK. Prevalence and predictors of frailty in childhood cancer survivors and siblings: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Clin Oncol Jan 20;38(3):232-247, 2020. PMID: 31800343

Ness KK, Plana JC, Joshi VM, Luepker RV, Durand JB, Green DM, Partin RE, Santucci, RE, Santucci AK, Howell RM, Srivastava DK, Hudson MM, Robison LL, Armstrong GT. Exercise intolerance, mortality and organ system impairment in adult survivors of childhood cancer. J Clin Oncol Oct 17:JCO1901661, 2019. PMID: 31622133

Howell CR, Wilson CL, Yasui Y, Srivastava DK, Lu W, Bjornard KL, Ehrhardt MJ, Brinkman TM, Chemaitilly W, Green DM, Lanctot JQ, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Ness KK. Neighborhood effect and obesity in adult survivors of pediatric cancer: A report from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study. Int J Cancer 147(2):338-349, 2020. PMID: 31600422

Wogksch MD, Howell CR, Wilson CL, Partin RE, Ehrhardt MJ, Krull KR, Brinkman TM, Mulrooney DA, Hudson MM, Robison LL, Ness KK. Physical fitness in survivors of childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma: A report from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort. Pediatr Blood Cancer Mar;66(3):e27506, 2019. PMID: 30362255

Kaste SC, DeFeo BM, Neel MD, Weiss KS, Fernandez-Pineda I, Ness KK. Osteonecrosis of the shoulders in pediatric patients treated for leukemia or lymphoma: Single-institutional experience. J Pediatr Orthop Feb;39(2):104-110, 2019. PMID: 28452860

Wilson CL, Howell CR, Partin RE, Lu L, Kaste SC, Mulrooney DA, Pui CH, Lanctot JQ, Srivastava DK, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Ness KK. Influence of fitness on health status among survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Pediatr Blood Cancer Jul 29:e27286, 2018. PMID: 30058279

Varedi M, Lu L, Howell CR, Partin RE, Hudson MM, Pui CH, Krull KR, Robison LL, Ness KK, McKenna RF. Peripheral neuropathy, sensory processing, and balance in survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. J Clin Oncol May 29:JCO2017767871, 2018. PMID: 29812998

Howell CR, Krull KR, Partin RE, Kadan-Lottick NS, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Ness KK. Randomized web-based physical activity intervention in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer May 3:e27216, 2018. PMID: 29722481

Cox C, Zhu L, Kaste SC, Srivastava K, Barnes L, Nathan PC, Wells RJ, Ness KK. Modifying bone mineral density, physical function, and quality of life in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Pediatr Blood Cancer Apr;65(4), 2018. PMID: 29286560

Eissa HM, Lu L, Baassiri M, Bhakta N, Ehrhardt MJ, Triplett BM, Green DM, Mulrooney DA, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Ness KK. Chronic disease burden and frailty in survivors of childhood HSCT: A report from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study. Blood Adv Nov 7;1(24):2243-2246, 2017. PMID: 29296872

Interiano RB, Kaste SC, Li C, Srivastava DK, Rao BN, Warner WC Jr, Green DM, Krasin MJ, Robison LL, Davidoff AM, Hudson MM, Fernandez-Pineda I, Ness KK. Associations between treatment, scoliosis, pulmonary function, and physical performance in long-term survivors of sarcoma. J Cancer Survivorship Oct;11(5):553-561, 2017. PMID: 28669098

Mulrooney DA, Soliman EZ, Ehrhardt MJ, Lu L, Duprez DA, Luepker RV, Armstrong GT, Joshi VM, Green DM, Srivastava D, Krasin MJ, Morris GS, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Ness KK. Electrocardiographic abnormalities and mortality in aging survivors of childhood cancer: A report from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study. Am Heart J Jul;189:19-27, 2017. PMID: 28625376

Marina NM, Liu Q, Donaldson SS, Sklar CA, Armstrong GT, Oeffinger KC, Leisenring WM, Ginsberg JP, Henderson TO, Neglia JP, Stovall MA, Yasui Y, Randall RL, Geller DS, Robison LL, Ness KK. Longitudinal follow-up of adult survivors of Ewing Sarcoma: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Cancer Jul 1;123(13):2551-2560, 2017. PMID: 28222219 Role: Senior author

Fernandez-Pineda I, Hudson MM, Pappo AS, Bishop MW, Klosky JL, Brinkman TM, Srivastava DK, Neel MD, Rao BN, Davidoff AM, Krull KR, Mulrooney DA, Robison LL, Ness KK. Long-term functional outcomes and quality of life in adult survivors of childhood extremity sarcomas: A report from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study. J Cancer Surviv Feb;11(1):1-12, 2017. PMID: 27262580

Last update: December 2022

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