Supportive Cancer Care | Nunez Lab for Computational Mental Health & Cancer Care

Navigation Assistant for Patients

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Cancer patients in British Columbia face significant challenges in navigating care resources scattered across multiple providers and locations. Delays in accessing these resources can impact not only quality of life but even survival, for example when a patient cannot reach their cancer centre for chemotherapy or is unaware of a transportation assistance program. To address this gap, we have developed an AI-powered chatbot utilizing RAG technology, which generates reliable answers by drawing from a curated database of verified cancer care resources.

AI-Supported Physical Activity Behaviour Change for People with Colon Cancer

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cooperating Researchers:

Dr. Kelcey Bland
Dr. Lauren Capozzi
Dr. Kristin Campbell
Kaela Cranston
Myles Chan

This project explores how an AI-powered chatbot can support people with colon cancer to become more physically active, building on the CHALLENGE trial (June 2025), which showed that structured exercise can improve survival. Because delivering individualized exercise counselling is resource-intensive, we are adapting an existing BC Cancer large language model chatbot to support exercise professionals to provide personalized, evidence-based behaviour change support.

Through co-design workshops with patients, clinicians, and exercise professionals, we will identify the features, safety needs, and delivery approaches required for a trustworthy and useful tool. A small pilot study will then assess the chatbot’s feasibility, usability, and acceptability. Findings will guide refinement and help determine whether the chatbot is ready for larger-scale evaluation.

Navigating Supportive Cancer Care: A Network-Based Analysis of Tumour Site Specific Pathways

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Developing network-based models to map how cancer patients access supportive care services across a complex healthcare system. Built dynamic visualization tools in Python to represent referral pathways and quantify transitions between providers. The project aims to uncover hidden patterns in care navigation, for example missed referral opportunities and delays in accessing mental health services, with the goal of informing system-level improvements in supportive care delivery.

Cooperating researcher:

Dr. Robert Grmek, MD (Resident Research Associate)

Dr. Robert Grmek, MD is currently a senior psychiatry resident at the University of British Columbia. His work focuses on the intersection of health care, technology, and health systems innovation. With a unique background in software development and medicine, he has developed clinical tools, including a psychiatric drug formulary app, and he has recently been focusing on using computational tools to better understand and optimize care systems as well as service delivery.

Interests:

Artificial intelligence
Digital innovation in healthcare delivery
Psychiatry

Education:

Bachelor in Computer Information Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan

Dr. Robert Grmek, MD

Equity in Cancer Precision Medicine

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Using machine learning to explore whether personalized cancer treatment approaches work equally well for all patients, regardless of their background.

How Patients and Clinicians Want to Use AI in Cancer Care

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Identifying Patients Who May Benefit from Psychiatric Support

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Using NLP applied to clinical notes to identify cancer patients who would benefit from psychiatric referral but may not yet have been flagged.

Navigation Assistant for Clinical Staff

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

An AI tool to help clinical teams assess incoming referrals, identify gaps in information, and route patients to the most appropriate services more efficiently.

Patient Attitudes Toward AI in Cancer Care

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Surveying and interviewing patients to understand their comfort with and concerns about artificial intelligence being used in their care.

Patient Perspectives on Supportive Care Referral

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A qualitative research study exploring how patients experience the process of being referred to supportive care services, and how they feel about the idea of AI being involved in that process.

Social Isolation, Psychological Distress, and Survival

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Examining how social isolation and psychological distress relate to outcomes for cancer patients, to better understand the human factors that influence survival.

Survival Prediction for Brain Cancer Patients

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Developing tools to better predict outcomes for patients with central nervous system (CNS) cancers, with the goal of improving prognostic conversations and palliative care planning.