Claire Han, PhD, DNP, RN, ARNP

How did you first find out about Clin-STAR’s research development grant program?

OSU social media, OSU College of Nursing Dean Dr. Karen Rose shared this with me.

What inspired you to pursue aging research and how does your perspective as a non-geriatrician specialist contribute to your research activity?

As a cancer nurse scientist focusing on chemotherapy-related toxicity and symptom distress in colorectal cancer, I have repeatedly observed the high prevalence of treatment complications, particularly among older adults. Through both my research and clinical practice, I have seen how profoundly these toxicities affect patients’ quality of life and treatment adherence. Although this issue is well recognized, we still lack reliable, clinically feasible tools to screen and predict chemotoxicity risk in older adults with cancer.

As a non-geriatrician, I view aging assessment and biological aging research not as exclusive to traditional geriatric conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, but as highly relevant to cancer—a disease that predominantly affects older adults. My background in oncology and symptom science led me to pursue aging research that bridges geriatric principles and biological aging measures within the unique context of cancer care. Cancer patients face complex treatment regimens and vulnerabilities, and developing aging-informed, cancer-specific approaches is essential for improving outcomes and survivorship.

In your view, what does Clin-STAR mean to the field and what does it mean for you to receive a Clin-STAR grant now?

In my view, Clin-STAR represents a vital national effort to bridge clinical care and aging science by fostering a diverse community of investigators dedicated to improving health outcomes for older adults with cancer and other chronic diseases. It advances the integration of geriatrics into all disciplines—nursing, medicine, and oncology—by supporting early-stage clinician-scientists to build sustainable, interdisciplinary research programs in aging.

For me, receiving a Clin-STAR grant is both an honor and an opportunity. It opens the door for me to continue growing my research at the intersection of cancer, aging, and survivorship—specifically, to better understand and mitigate chemotherapy-related toxicity and symptom burden in older adults with colorectal cancer. This award affirms that nursing perspectives are central to advancing gerioncology and motivates me to pursue innovative, aging-informed approaches that enhance precision care and quality of life for older cancer survivors.

What’s exciting about your research’s potential impact to your career, field, and patients?

What excites me most about the potential impact of my research is its ability to bridge two fields that have rarely been fully integrated—aging science and cancer survivorship. Through the AID-CHEMO project, I am developing AI-driven models that incorporate biological aging markers to predict chemotherapy toxicity and symptom burden in older adults with cancer. This approach not only advances precision care but also helps fill a critical gap in understanding how aging influences treatment tolerance and survivorship outcomes.

For my career, this work allows me to grow as an independent investigator and build a strong interdisciplinary research network spanning oncology, geroscience, and data science. For the field, it positions nursing and gerioncology as key drivers in developing aging-informed models of cancer care—an area still underdeveloped compared to cancer diagnosis or basic aging research. Most importantly, for patients, this research can transform how we guide decision-making for older adults with cancer, helping clinicians tailor treatments, minimize toxicities, improve quality of life, and ultimately extend survival.

How do you plan to collaborate with your mentor or co-investigators on this project?

Collaboration is central to the success of the AID-CHEMO (AI-Driven Chemotoxicity Prediction Model in Older Adults with Colorectal Cancer), AI modeling project, and each co-investigator brings complementary expertise that will strengthen the study’s scientific rigor and translational impact.

I will work closely with Dr. Xia Ning (AI and biomedical informatics) to develop and validate the machine learning models, ensuring robust prediction, interpretability, and reproducibility. Dr. Christin Burd (aging biology) will guide biological aging analyses, including the computation of Levine Phenotypic Age and interpretation of DNAmAge and inflammatory aging markers within the AI framework. Dr. Jesse Plascak (cancer control and spatial epidemiology) will oversee geospatial data computation and analysis to incorporate social and environmental determinants into the models.

Clinically, I will collaborate with Dr. Diane Von Ah (nursing and cancer survivorship) to translate model outputs into survivorship care implications, Dr. Ann Noonan (GI oncology) to ensure clinical accuracy and relevance of chemotherapy and toxicity data, and Dr. Ashley Rosko (geriatrics) to interpret findings within the context of aging, frailty, and treatment decision-making.

Together, this interdisciplinary team will integrate biosocial, biological, and AI-driven perspectives to develop clinically meaningful, aging-informed tools for predicting chemotherapy toxicity and improving survivorship outcomes in older adults with cancers.