Brook Harmon, MS, RD
Research Associate; Epidemiology and Biostatistics

USC Cancer Prevention & Control Program
2221 Devine St, Room 232
Columbia, SC 29208 (29205 for express delivery)
Tel:  803.734.4432
Fax:  803.734.5505
E-mail:  brookharmon@sc.edu

Bibliographic Profile

BS, Human Nutrition, Winthrop University
Dietetic Internship, Winthrop University
Registered Dietitian, American Dietetic Association
MS, Exercise Science, University of South Carolina
Certificate in Gerontology, University of South Carolina

Grants

Co-PIs: Brook Harmon, James Hebert, Swann Adams, Collaborative Cooking Classes to Change Dietary Practices (Dash of Faith), funded by the Office of Research through the SCCDCN
Project and Intervention Coordinator: A Diet, Physical Activity, and Meditation Intervention in Men with Rising Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) - EASE, PI James Hebert, funded by the Department of Defense
Project Coordinator: Comparison and Validation of Sleep Actigraphs, PI Shawn Youngstedt, made possible by contributions from CPCP, MTI Actigraph and Ambulatory Monitoring, Inc
Project Coordinator: A prospective study to examine the effects of JuicePlus+® on global body inflammatory load in healthy people (Antioxidants and Health Study), PI Lorne Hofseth, funded by NSA, Inc

Publications

1. Heiney SP, Adams SA, Cunningham JE, McKenzie W, Harmon B, Hebert JR, Modayil M, Subject recruitment for cancer control studies in an adverse environment. Cancer Nurs. 2006 Jul-Aug;29(4):291-9; quiz 300-1.
   Harmon, Brook. “In Sickness and in Health.” IMARA Woman July/August 2005:40-41.

Research Projects

Dash of Faith: PI Brook Harmon, MS, RD, Co-PIs Swann Adams, PhD, James Hebert, ScD
This proposal is the result of a request from the faith-based community. Leaders within the African-American community expressed their desire to have church cooks trained in how to provide healthier meals to the congregation. Building upon this desire, we are developing an understanding of the church meal environment as well as the needs and wants of those involved in meal preparation. A group of individuals involved in meal preparation for a local African-American Baptist church took place in focus group discussions. From the interests and suggestions raised by the group, a series of cooking classes was created. Questionnaire data and meal evaluations are being compared between the intervention church participating in the cooking classes and a control church who will receive the classes once the initial wave of data collection is complete.

Sleep Validation Study: PI Shawn Youngstedt, PhD, Richard Bogan, MD, James Hebert, ScD
Polysomnography (PSG), including electroencephalographic assessment of brain wave activity, electromyographic measurement of chin muscle movement, and oculomotor activity, is considered the “gold standard” for sleep assessment. However, this procedure is expensive, time consuming for patients and technicians, and can interfere with sleep. Wrist actigraphic estimation of sleep is being used increasingly in both clinical and research settings as an alternative to PSG. Although, not as accurate, it is an inexpensive, non-invasive tool, which is particularly applicable for long-term monitoring (for weeks or months) of large samples in one’s home environment. To help clarify for researchers and clinicians which wrist actigraphic monitors are valid for use with sleep assessment, two monitors (MTI sleep actigraph (Model AM7164-2.2) and the Octagon actigraph of Ambulatory Monitoring, Inc.) are being evaluated with 60 patients undergoing PSG testing. Scored PSG reports and reports from the two monitors worn will then be analyzed for comparisons.

Antioxidants & Health: PI Lorne Hofseth, PhD
Chronic inflammation reduces human life span. Cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), obesity and aging are all conditions associated with a high ‘inflammatory load’ (defined as elevated levels of markers of inflammation in serum and/or tissues). In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, the antioxidant capacity of two JuicePlus+® concentrates will be examined. Specific inflammatory signatures may prove to be indicative of specific forthcoming diseases. Our goal is to complete and publish the most thorough and comprehensive study to date examining the role of JuicePlus+® in the reduction of inflammatory load in a healthy population.