Robert Knoerl, Ph.D., RN


Assistant Professor
Suzanne Bellinger Feetham Professor of Nursing
Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences
Room 2350 NURS1

University of Michigan School of Nursing
400 North Ingalls Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482

Telephone: 734-764-8617

In the news

Interests

  • Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Integrative Oncology
  • Symptom Management
  • Clinical trials

Dr. Robert Knoerl’s program of research aims to develop options for managing cancer treatment-related side effects that are effective and have fewer, or no, side effects. To this end, Dr. Knoerl has led clinical trials to explore the potential of non-pharmacological interventions, such as yoga, music therapy, and cognitive behavioral pain management, to reduce the occurrence of cancer-treatment-related side effects and improve cancer survivors' quality of life. In particular, Dr. Knoerl has focused the testing of such non-pharmacological interventions for remote delivery and/or adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Dr. Knoerl received postdoctoral training at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (2017-2019) and is a graduate of the University of Michigan’s BSN (2014) and PhD (2017) nursing programs. 

Current Research Grants and Programs

  • R34 Cancer Prevention and Control Clinical Trials Planning Grant; National Cancer Institute. Determining the Feasibility of Virtual, Tailored, Music-Based Relaxation for Anxiety in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors (1R34CA286712-01A1). Role: PI.
  • Rogel Cancer Center Discovery Award. A Pilot Study of Self-Administered Acupressure for Fatigue Among Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Survivors. Role: PI.

Teaching

As an instructor, Dr. Knoerl hopes to preserve the dignity of all students, help students master specific nursing or research skills, and to subsequently facilitate the learned skills in varying situations so that the learned content may be directly translated to their chosen careers. For students, Dr. Knoerl hopes to create a welcoming learning environment and to promote the transmission of ideas during (e.g., group discussions, case-studies, writing) and outside of class (e.g., open communication with instructors) to facilitate the mastery of the content. Most importantly, Dr. Knoerl wants to get to know each student in his class and be available as needed to help each student learn the class material to the best of their ability.

Affiliations / Service

  • Member, Oncology Nursing Society, 2015 – Present
  • Member, Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2020 – Present

Notable Awards / Honors

  • Victoria Mock New Investigator Award, Oncology Nursing Society, 2020
  • The Excellence in Dissemination Award: Peer-Reviewed Publication – Educator/Leader, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Department of Nursing and Patient Care Services, 2019

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2017
  • BSN, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2014

Publication Highlights

  • Knoerl, R., Ploutz-Snyder, R., Smener, L., Tofthagen, C., & Zick, S. (2024). Association of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy with diet quality among post-treatment cancer survivors. Nutrition and Cancer, 76(8), 717–725. https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2024.2364389

  • Knoerl, R., Grandinetti, K., Smener, L., Doll, E., Fecher, L. A., Henry, N. L., Karimi, Y., Pettit, K., Schuetze, S., Walling, E., Zhang, A., & Barton, D. (2024). Exploring adolescent and young adult cancer survivors' experience with cancer treatment-related symptoms: A qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews. Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, 13(4), 665–673. https://doi.org/10.1089/jayao.2024.0053

  • Knoerl, R., Mazzola, E., Woods, H., Buchbinder, E., Frazier, L., LaCasce, A., Li, B. T., Luskin, M. R., Phillips, C. S., Thornton, K., Berry, D. L., & Ligibel, J. A. (2022). Exploring the feasibility of a mindfulness-music therapy intervention to improve anxiety and stress in adolescents and young adults with cancer. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 63(4), e357–e363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.11.013

  • Knoerl, R., Giobbie-Hurder, A., Berfield, J., Berry, D., Meyerhardt, J. A., Wright, A. A., & Ligibel, J. A. (2022). Yoga for chronic chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy pain: A pilot, randomized controlled trial. Journal of Cancer Survivorship: Sesearch and pPractice, 16(4), 882–891. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-021-01081-z

  • Knoerl, R., Berry, D., Meyerhardt, J. A., Reyes, K., Salehi, E., Thornton, K., & Gewandter, J. S. (2022). Identifying participants' preferences for modifiable chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy prevention clinical trial factors: An adaptive choice-based conjoint analysis. Supportive Care in Cancer: Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 30(12), 9963–9973. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07447-y

  • Knoerl, Robert, Mazzola, E., Hong, F., Salehi, E., McCleary, N., Ligibel, J., Reyes, K., & Berry, D. L. (2021). Exploring the impact of a decision support algorithm to improve clinicians’ chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy assessment and management practices: a two-phase, longitudinal study. BMC Cancer, 21(1), 236. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-07965-8

  • Knoerl, Robert, Smith, E. M. L., Barton, D. L., Williams, D. A., Holden, J. E., Krauss, J. C., & LaVasseur, B. (2018). Self-guided online cognitive behavioral strategies for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A multicenter, pilot, randomized, wait-list controlled trial. The Journal of Pain: Official Journal of the American Pain Society, 19(4), 382–394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.009

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