Jessica Burris

Jessica Burris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Kentucky, serving as Co-Director of Clinical Training and Co-Leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at the Markey Cancer Center. Her research focuses on cancer survivorship, smoking cessation, and health equity, particularly in rural and underserved populations. She leads the BIRDS Lab, which investigates tobacco cessation strategies within cancer care and the intersection of social determinants of health.

Research Interests

• Cancer survivorship care and adjustment
• Behavioral interventions for smoking cessation in high-risk populations
• Health equity in Appalachia and rural communities
• Implementation science for scalable interventions

Key Projects

• CATs Study: Examines smoking cessation dynamics in head/neck and cervical cancer patients.
• CAKE Study: Focuses on cervical cancer survivors’ tobacco use and social barriers.
• Markey CARES Tobacco Program: Integrates tobacco treatment into cancer care via provider training and patient support.

Grants & Advising

• Funded by NCI grants (e.g., K07 CA181351).
• Mentor to 7+ graduate students, emphasizing translational research and health equity.

Lab & Future Work

The BIRDS Lab is advancing a 1-year NCI-funded study aligning Markey’s practices with National Survivorship Care Standards. Current projects emphasize community engagement and scalable solutions for rural populations.