Using quantitative and qualitative methods, Brandy-Joe Milliron employs a formative approach to intervention development supported by identifying beliefs, behaviors, challenges and needs of the individuals and families. Her research has focused primarily on identifying nutrition-related beliefs and behaviors, and on factors that enable and challenge people with cancer and their caregivers in their attempts to consume a healthful diet; although, elements of my inquiry have extended to other populations as well. Her goal is to use these findings to design evidence-based interventions, develop programs and practices that enhance supportive care, and foster supportive communities. As a teacher, Milliron is passionate about training the next generation of nutrition scientists both through mentorship and the undergraduate and graduate-level courses in Community Nutrition and Global Nutrition I currently teach. Within the academy, her service focuses on community engagement and nutrition education. Outside the academy, she’s devoted to civic engagement, especially efforts that focus on improving the physical and emotional health of individuals by helping them increase their connection with nature.

The core of Milliron’s research portfolio lies in: (1) exploring nutrition-related beliefs, behaviors and challenges, with an eye toward improving healthy cancer survivorship; (2) identifying the health- and nutrition-related needs of family caregivers of people with cancer, and (3) improving our understanding how people’s interactions with their environment(s) affect their nutritional choices.

View Biographical Sketch of Brandy-Joe Milliron

Professional Society

Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior
Multinational Association Supportive Care in Cancer
American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Selected Publications

Milliron, B. J., Bruneau, M., Obeid, E., Smaltz, C., Giri V. N. (2019). Nutrition assessment among men undergoing genetic counseling for inherited prostate cancer: Exploring a teachable moment. The Prostate, 79(7), 778-783.

Klassen, A., Milliron, B. J., Suehiro, Y., Abdulloeva, S., Leonburg, B., Grossman, S., Chenault, M. C., Bossert, L., Maqsood, J., Abduzhalilov, R., Iskandari, M. (2019). “Then you raise them with shirchoy or cookies”: Understanding influences on delayed dietary diversity among children in Tajikistan. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 15(2), e12694.

Paek, M. S., Nightingale, C., Tooze, J.A., Milliron, B. J., Weaver, K., Sterba, K. (2018). Contextual and stress process factors associated with head and neck cancer caregivers’ physical and psychological well-being. European Journal of Cancer Care, 27(2), EPub 2018 Feb 20.

Petroka, K., Campbell-Bussiere, R., Dychtwald, D. K., Milliron, B. J. (2017). Barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and disease self-management among older adults residing in subsidized housing. Journal of Nutrition and Health, 23(3), 167-175.

Milliron, B. J., Vitolins, M., Gamble, E., Jones, R., Chenault, M. C., Tooze, J. (2017). Process evaluation of a community garden at an urban outpatient clinic. Journal of Community Health, 42(4), 639-648.

Grant participation:

Optimizing an mHealth Intervention to Change Food Purchasing Behaviors for Cancer Prevention. (PI: Butryn). NIH/NCI, 2020-2022.

Identifying Healthy and High-Risk Weight Loss Phenotypes to Optimize Obesity Management in End Stage Kidney Disease. (PI: Harhay). NIH/NIDDK, 2020-2025.

Ice Cream Therapy: Functional Ice Cream Alternative to Oral Nutrition Supplements. (PI: Deutsch). Couter Foundation, 2020-2021.

Reduced Sodium R & D and Industry Feedback. (PI: Deutsch). City of Philadelphia, Department of Public Health. Get Healthy Philly/Division of Chronic Disease Prevention, 2019-2020.

Strategies for Healthy Brain Aging: Food for Thought. (PI: Fisher). Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, Cell to Society Grant, 2020-2021.

Nutrition-Related Beliefs, Behaviors and Needs of Women with Perinatal Depression. (PI: Milliron). Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, Dean’s Rapid Response Relevant (R3) Grant, 2020-2021.

Feasibility of the Enhanced Tobacco Intervention Protocol (ETIP) to Reduce Smoking and Alter the Tumor Microenvironment of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. (PI: Zibelli). Thomas Jefferson University’s Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center. Transdisciplinary Integrated Population Science Pilot Project Grants program, 2019-2021.

Co-Investigator, Immunization and Factors Influencing Vaccine Hesitancy in Tajikistan. (PI: Klassen). United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2018-2019.

Optimizing Healthful Nutrition of Cancer Caregivers and Survivors. (PI: Milliron). Thomas Jefferson University’s Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center. Transdisciplinary Integrated Population Science Pilot Project Grants program, 2018-2020.

Physical Activity and Nutrition Needs of Cancer Patients and Caregivers. (PIs: Packel, Milliron). Pennsylvania Department of Health, 2017-2020.

Heart Healthy Cooking Lab: Youth exploring wellness through cooking and gardening. (PI: MIlliron). Drexel University, College of Nursing and Health Professions, 2017-2018. Green City, Clean Water: Cultivating the land to replenish the river and nourish the community. (PI; Ellis). William Penn Foundation, 2016-2017. Co-Investigator, Formative Research on Infant and Young Child Feeding and Maternal Nutrition in Tajikistan. (PI: Klassen). United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2015-2016.

Research Interests

Cancer survivorship, nutrition, caregiver health, cancer prevention, global nutrition, maternal and child health, nutrition environment

View Research Profile

Wake Forest School of Medicine, 2010-13, Postdoctoral Research Fellowship,
Cancer Prevention & Control, National Cancer Institute (R25 CA122061-05)

Arizona State University, 2007-10, PhD, Physical Activity, Nutrition and Wellness

Arizona State University, 2003-05, MS, Human Nutrition

University of Colorado at Boulder, 1998-2001, BS, Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology