I am a Career Development Fellow as part of the TRANSFORM Project funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research.
I am originally from Nova Scotia, Canada and completed most of my graduate training at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta. After completing my PhD in 2015, I worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia as well as a Visiting Research Fellow for 6 months with the University of Adelaide in Adelaide, Australia.
More detail can be found on my ResearchGate profile page.
I am interested in how to improve quality of life among people with cancer using physical activity behaviour change. I am also interested in how digital technologies such as websites and wearable activity trackers can be used to assist this behaviour change.
Research grants
1. Short CE, Galvão D, Vandelanotte C, Forbes CC, Brook NR, Newton R, Chambers S, Wittert G. (2017). Delivering personalized and evidence-based exercise support to men with metastatic prostate cancer via the internet - A pilot RCT examining intervention impact on behaviour change and quality of life. Funded by the ANZUP Cancer Trials Group Below the Belt Research Fund (1 year; $50,000 AUD).
2. Forbes CC, Keats MR, Younis T, Blanchard CM. (2017). Feasibility of an eHealth/mHealth physical activity and sedentary behaviour change program among cancer survivors. Funded by the Nova Scotia Health Authority – Research Fund. (2 years; $24,968).
3. Blanchard CM, Forbes CC, & Giacomantonio N. (2016). Getting heart disease patients more active and less sedentary: An eHealth/mHealth feasibility study. Funded by the Nova Scotia Health Authority - Research Fund – 1 year ($14,973).
4. Blanchard CM, Forbes CC, Younis T. (2016). Examining strategies to engage in healthy behaviours among breast cancer survivors. Funded by the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute Seed Fund, 1 year ($10,000).
5. Courneya KS (PI), Forbes CC, Blanchard CM, Mummery WK. (2011). Promoting physical activity in Nova Scotian cancer survivors. Funded by the University of Alberta - EFF Support for the Advancement of Scholarship Grant Program, 1 year ($6,000).
Cindy's publications are available to view on Worktribe.
I currently have collaborations with researchers in Canada and Australia; we are developing and testing the feasibility of individually tailored, website delivered exercise programs and support for people diagnosed with cancer.
I welcome enquiries from prospective students with similar interests in exercise oncology, behaviour change, and/or digital technology.
Currently supervising
Fadel Lhaf - Hull York Medical School INSPIRE student on "Attitudes, facilitators, and barriers to delivering nutrition and activity counselling/advice to patients with a cancer diagnosis: systematic review"
Journal Reviewer
Invited reviewer for Journal of Medical Internet Research, Journal of Medical Internet Research – Research Protocols, International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, BMC Cancer, BMC Public Health, European Journal of Cancer Care, Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica (AOGS), British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Thesis Examiner
1. Honours Thesis Examiner, 2017. Department of Psychology, Central Queensland University, Queensland, Australia.
Conference Advisory/Organizing Committee
1. Member, SBM Annual Action Team, 2017-2018.
Contributions to Professional Societies and Organizations
1. Committee Member, International Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity: Communications Committee (2018-present).
2. Committee Member, Canadian Society for Psychomotor and Sport Psychology Membership Committee (2016-present)
3. Affiliate Member, Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute (2015-present)
4. Member, Cancer Care Nova Scotia Physical Activity and Cancer Working Group (2015 - present)
5. Member, Canadian Society for Psychomotor and Sport Psychology (2015 - present)
6. Communications Officer for the Cancer Prevention and Management Special Interest Group with the International Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity (2015 - present)
7. Member, International Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity: eHealth/mHealth Special Interest Group (2015 - present)
8. Member, Certified Personal Trainer, Canadian Society of Exercise Physiologists (2009 – present)
Community
1. Expert Reviewer in social cognition models and exercise for “Get Active, Sit Less! Exercise and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines Guidebook for Kidney Cancer Survivors” developed by L. Trinh (2015).
2. Member, Vice President of Professional Development for Physical Education and Recreation Graduate Student Society (2014-2015)
3. Member, Communications Officer for Physical Education and Recreation Graduate Student Society (2013-2014)
Yorkshire Cancer Research Foundation, Career Development Fellowship, £385,895GBP – 5 years (2018).
Government of Australia, Endeavour Research Fellowship, $24,500AUD – 6 month visiting Postdoctoral Fellow (2017).
Dalhousie University, Department of Medicine, University Internal Medicine Research Fund, Internal Research Fellowship, $50,000CAD – 2 year part-time Fellowship (2017).
Oncology Nursing Society, Excellence in Writing Award for Quantitative Nursing Research $1000USD (for Prevalence and Correlates of Strength Exercise among Breast, Prostate, and Colorectal Cancer Survivors, 2016)