Wendy Demark-Wahnefried

Wendy Demark-Wahnefried is a leading researcher in diet, weight management, and lifestyle interventions for cancer prevention and survivorship. Her RENEW trial demonstrated the feasibility and benefits of a diet and exercise intervention for older, overweight cancer survivors on key health outcomes. She has investigated the biological mechanisms by which excess adiposity promotes cancer recurrence and mortality including insulin signaling, adipokines, and inflammatory pathways. Her research on dietary patterns including low-fat and plant-based diets in cancer survivors has advanced understanding of nutritional approaches to reducing cancer recurrence risk. Her comprehensive lifestyle interventions address multiple modifiable cancer risk factors simultaneously.