Dr. Patricia Ganz has spent the past three decades studying the quality of life outcomes for patients with cancer. In recent years she has focused her efforts on the late medical effects of treatment in women with breast cancer (for example, menopause, osteoporosis, fatigue and cognitive function). Ganz and her associates are examining fatigue, sleep and cognitive functioning in a variety of studies, and are exploring the immunological and physiological mechanisms underlying these issues. Current research studies focus on testing strategies to improve cognitive changes in breast cancer survivors, and another study focused on reducing stress and improving health outcomes in younger women with breast cancer.

Ganz directs the UCLA-LIVESTRONG Survivorship Center of Excellence at UCLA, and has additional funding from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for a specialized program that focuses on younger women with breast cancer. She is the principal investigator for the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) treatment trials at UCLA and chairs the Behavioral and Health Outcomes committee of the NSABP. She is also the Vice-Chair of the National Cancer Policy Forum of the Institute of Medicine, where she plays a leadership role in advancing policy work related to the quality of cancer care delivery.