Melanie Keats (She/Her), PhD

Education

Curriculum Vitae
 

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Calgary

Doctor of Philosophy, Exercise and Health Psychology, University of Calgary

Master of Science, Exercise and Health Psychology, University of Alberta

Bachelor of Kinesiology, University of Calgary

Bio

Melanie Keats, PhD is a Professor in the School of Health and Human Performance, Division of Kinesiology at Dalhousie University. She is also a Senior Scientist with the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, an Affiliated Scientist with Nova Scotia Health (Division of Medical Oncology), and is the Co-Director of the Physical Activity and Cancer (PAC) Lab. Dr. Keats’ research takes an interdisciplinary approach to better understanding the role of exercise in improving the lives of those living with and beyond cancer. This includes working with colleagues, experts, and trainees in the fields of exercise oncology, behavioral medicine, health and exercise psychology, exercise science, oncology, chronic disease management, knowledge translation, clinical trials and implementation science. Her research works and efforts are largely dedicated to bringing exercise into standard cancer care.

Research Interests

Effects of exercise for those living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis.

Professional Affiliations

• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
• Society for Integrated Oncology (SIO)

Publications

1. Heinze, S.S., Chiekwe, C.J., Christensen, T., Culos-Reed, S.N., Kendall, S.J., Langley, J.E., McNeely, M.L., Keats, M.R.,† & Grandy, S.A.† (2024). Activating Cancer Communities through an Exercise Strategy for Cancer Survivors: An effectiveness-implementation trial. Frontiers Cancer Control & Society, 2: 1389084. doi: 10.3389/fcacs.2024.1389084 †Denotes shared senior authorship.

2. Pan, K-Y, van Tuijl, L., Basten, M., Rijnhart, J.J.M., de Graeff, A., Dekker, J., Geerlings, M.I., Hoogendoorn, A., Ranchor, A.V., Vermeulen, R., Portengen, L., Voogd, A., Abell, J., Awadalla, P., Beekman, R.T.F., Bjerkeset, O., Boyd, A., Cui, Y., Frank, P., Galenkamp, H., Garssen, B., Hellingman, S., Hollander, M., Huisman, M., Huss, A., Keats, M.R., Kok, A.A.L., Krokstad, S., van Leeuwen, F.E., Luik, A.I., Noisel, N., Payette, Y., Penninz, B.W.J.H., Picavet, S., Rissanen, I., Roest, A.M., Rosmalen, J.G.M., Ruiter, R., Schoevers, R.A., Soave, D.M., Spaan, M., Steptoe, A., Stronks, K., Sund, E.R., Sweeney, E., Teyhan, A., Twait, E.L., van der Willik, K.D., & Lamers, F. (2024). The mediating role of health behaviours in the association between depression, anxiety, and cancer incidence: An individual participant data meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 1-14.

3. Wagoner, C.W., Dreger, J., Keats, M.R., McNeely, M.L., Cuthbert, C., Capozzi, L.C., Francis, G.J., Trinh, L., Campbell, K., Sibley, D., Langley, J., & Culos-Reed, N.S. (2024). Exercise and behaviour change support for individuals living with and beyond cancer: Interim results and program satisfaction for the EXCEL study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Plus. doi: 10.1016/j.jsampl.2024.100055

4. Chiekwe, C.J., Hamilton-Hinch, B., Grandy, S.A., Fowles, J., & Keats, M.R. (2024). “No one told me”: Exploring factors influencing physical activity participation in African Nova Scotian, Caribbean, and Black Canadians. Frontiers in Cancer Control & Society, 1, https://doi.org/10.3389/fcacs.2023.1229028.

5. Basten, M., Pan, K-Y, van Tuijl, L., de Graeff, A., Dekker, J., Hoogendoorn, A.W., Lamers, F., Ranchor, A.V., Vermeulen, R., Portengen, L., Voogd, A., Abell, J. Awadalla1, P., Beekman, A.T.F., Bjerkeset, O., Boyd, A., Cui, Y., Frank, P., Galenkamp, H., Garssen, B., Hellingman, S., Huisman, M., Huss, A., Keats, M.R., Kok, A.A.L., Krokstad, S., van Leeuwen, F.E., Luik, A.I., Noisel, N., Payette, Y., Penninx, B.W.J.H., Rissanen, I., Roest, A.M., Rosmalen, J., Ruiter, R. Schoevers, R.A., Soave, D.M., Spaan, M., Steptoe, A., Stronks, K., Sund. E.R., Sweeney, E., Twait, E.L., Teyhan, A., Verschuren, W.M.M., van der Willik, K.D., & Geerlings, M.I. (2024). Psychosocial factors, health behaviors and risk of cancer incidence: Testing interaction and effects modification in an individual participant data meta-analysis. International Journal of Cancer, 154(10), 1745-1759. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.34852

6. Kendall, S., Heinze, S.S., Blanchard, C., Chiekwe, J.C., Melvin, J., Younis, T., Culos-Reed, N.S., McNeely, M., Keats, M.R., & Grandy, S.A. (2023). Exercise programming modelling a standard of care approach improves physical health and patient-reported outcomes in breast cancer survivors. Current Oncology, 30(8), 7203-7217.

7. van Tuijl, L., Basten, M., Pan, K-Y., Vermeulen, R., Portengen, L., de Graeff, A., Dekker, J., Geerlings, M.I., Hoogendoorn, A., Lamers, F., Voogd, A.C., Abell, J., Awadalla, P., Beekman, A.T.F., Bjerkeset, O., Boyd, A., Cui, Y., Frank, P., Galenkamp, H., Garssen, B., Hellingman, S., Huisman, M., Huss, A., de Jong, T.R., Keats, M.R.. Kok, A.A.L., Krokstad, S., van Leeuwen, F.E., Luik, A.I., Onland-Moret, N.C., Penninx, B.W.J.H., Rissanen, I., Roest, A.M., Ruiter, R., Schoevers, R.A., Soave, D.M., Spaan, M., Steptoe, A., Stronks, K., Sund, E.R., Sweeney, E., Twait, E.L., Teyhan, A., Verschuren, A.W.M., van der Willik, K.D., Rosmalen, J.G.M., & Ranchor, A.V. (2023). Depression, anxiety, and the risk of cancer incidence: Results from the PSY-CA consortium. Cancer, 129(20), 3287-3299.

8. Keats, M.R., Yu, X., Magee, M.S., Forbes, C.C., Grandy, S.A., Sweeney, E., & Dummer, T. (2023). Use of wearable activity monitoring technologies to promote physical activity in cancer survivors: Challenges and opportunities for improved cancer care. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6), 4784. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20064784.

9. Wagoner, C.W., Dreger, J., Keats, M.R., Santa Mina, D., McNeely, M.L., Cuthbert, C., Capozzi, L.C., Francis, G.J., Trinh, L., Sibley, D., Langley, J., Ester, M., Foucaut, A-M., The EXCEL Project Team, & Culos-Reed, S.N. (2023). First year implementation of EXercise for Cancer to Enhance Living well (EXCEL) study: Building Networks to support rural and remote community access to exercise oncology resources. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(3), 1930. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031930

10. Culos-Reed, S.N., Wagoner, C.W., Dreger, J., McNeely, M.L., Keats, M.R., Santa Mina, E., Cuthbert, C., Capozzi, L.C., Francis, G.J., Ester, M., McLaughlin, E. Eisele, M., Sibley, D., Langley, J., Chiekwe, J., Christensen, T. (2022). Implementing an exercise oncology model to reach rural and remote individuals living with and beyond cancer: A hybrid effectiveness-implementation protocol for Project EXCEL (EXercise for Cancer to Enhance Living Well). BMJ Open, 12(12):e063953. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063953

11. Kendall, S.J., Langley, J., Aghdam, M., Crooks, B., Giacomantonio, N., Heinze-Milne, S., Johnston, W., Keats, M.R., Mulvagh, S., & Grandy, S.A. (2022). The impact of exercise on cardiotoxicity in pediatric cancer survivors: A scoping review protocol. Healthy Populations Journal, 2(2), 94-105. doi:10.15273/hpj.v2i2.11294

12. Kendall, S.J., Langley, J., Aghdam, M., Crooks, B., Giacomantonio, N., Heinze-Milne, S., Johnston, W., Keats, M.R., Mulvagh, S., & Grandy, S.A. (2022). The impact of exercise on cardiotoxicity in pediatric and adolescent cancer survivors: A scoping review. Current Oncology, 29(9), 6350-6363. doi:10.3390/curroncol29090500

13. Keats, M.R., Grandy, S.A., Blanchard, C., Fowles, J.R., Neyedli, H.F., Weeks, A.C., & MacNeil, M.V. (2022). The impact of Resistance ExerciSe on muscle mass in glioblastoma in survivors (RESIST): Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 11(5), e37709.

14. Jelicic, N., Langley, J., Culos-Reed, N. Grandy, S.A., Santa Mina, D., MacNeely, M., & Keats, M.R. (2022). Characterizing pragmatic exercise interventions to reduce cognitive impairment in cancer survivors: A scoping review protocol. Healthy Populations Journal, 2(1), 96-105.

15. Murphy, R.A., Darvishian, M., Qi, J., Chen, Y., Chu, Q., Vena, J., Dummer, T.J.B., Le, N., Sweeney, E., DeClercq, V., Grandy, S.A., Keats, M.R., Cui, Y., Awadall, P., Brenner, D.R., & Bhatti, P. (2022). Lifestyle factors and lung cancer risk among never smokers in the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath). Cancer Causes and Control, 33(6), 913-918.

16. Langley, L., Warner, G., Cassidy, C., Culos-Reed, N., Urquhart, R., Grandy, S.A., & Keats, M.R. (2022). Characterizing non-curative cancer patient’s preferences, barriers, and facilitators to engaging in exercise programs: A scoping review protocol. Healthy Populations Journal, 2(1), 87-95.

17. Varghese, S.S., Johnston, W.J., Eekhoudt, C.R., Keats, M.R., Jassal, D.S., & Grandy, S.A. (2021). Exercise to reduce anthracycline-mediated cardiovascular complications in breast cancer survivors. Current Oncology, 28(5), 4139-4156.

18. Sweeney, E., Cui, Y., Zhijie, M.Y., Dummer, T.J.B., DeClercq, V., Forbes, C., Grandy, S.A., Keats, M.R., Adiseh, A. (2021). The association between mental health and shift work: Findings from the Atlantic PATH study. Preventive Medicine, 150:106697.

19. Anisimowicz, Y., Rudy, L., Hamilton, R.., McGowan, E., Saunders, T., Keats, M., Grandy, S., Soucy, C.R-A., Bouchard, D. (2021). Experiences of an exercise program: Perspectives from breast cancer survivors. The Qualitative Report, 26(8), 2479-2501.

20. van Tuijl, L.A., Voogd, A.C., de Graeff, A., Hoogendoorn, A.W., Ranchor, A.V., Pan, KY, Basten, M., Lamers, F. Geerlings, M.I., Abell, J.G., Awadalla, P., Bakker, M.F., Beekman, A.T.F, Bjerkeset, O., Boyd, A., Cui, Y., Galenkamp, H., Garssen, B., Hellingman, S., Huisman, M., Huss, A., Keats, M.R., Kok, A.A.L., Luik, A.I., Noisel, N., Onland-Moret, N.C., Payette, Y., Penninx, B.W.J.H., Portengen, L., Rissanen, I., Roest, A.M., Rosmalen, J.G.M., Ruiter, R., Schoevers, R.A., Soave, D.M., Spaan, M., Steptoe, A., Stronks, K., Sund, E.R., Sweeney, E., Teyhan, A., Vaartjes, I., van der Willik, K.D., van Leeuwen, F.E., van Petersen, R., Verschuren, W.M.M., Visseren, F.L.J., Vermeulen, R., & Dekker, J. (2021). Psychosocial Factors and Cancer Incidence (PSY-CA): protocol for individual participant data meta-analyses. Brain & Behavior, 11(10), e2340). https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2340

21. Orzel, B., Keats, M.R., Cui, Y., & Grandy, S. (2021). Regional comparisons of associations between physical activity levels and cardiovascular disease: The story of Atlantic Canada. Canadian Journal of Cardiology Open, 3(5), P631-638. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjco.2021.01.007

22. Heinze-Milne, S.D., Keats, M.R., Giacomantonio, N., MacDonald, D., Rajda, M., Younis, T., & Grandy, S.A. (2021). EXercise to prevent AnthraCycline-based Cardio-Toxicity (EXACT): A feasibility study. Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, 6(3), 1-11.

23. Keats, M.R. Yunsong, C., DeClercq, V, Grandy, S.A., Sweeney, E, & Dummer, T.J.B. (2020). Associations between neighborhood walkability, physical activity, and chronic disease in Nova Scotian Adults: An Atlantic PATH cohort study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(22), 8643.

24. Keats, M.R., Yunsong, C., DeClercq, V., Grandy, S.A., Sweeney, E., & Dummer, T. (2020). Burden of multimorbidity and polypharmacy among cancer survivors: A population-based nested case-control study. Supportive Care in Cancer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05529-3.

25. Yui, Y., Sweeney, E., Forbes, C., DeClercq, V., Grandy, S., Keats, M., Parker, L., Sweeney, E., Yu, Z.M., and Dummer, T.J.B. (2020). Association between physical activity and self-rated health in Atlantic Canadians. Journal of Women and Aging.1-15.

26. Shea, K., Urquhart, R., & Keats, M.R. (2020). Physical activity and cancer care in the Atlantic Canadian Provinces: An examination of provider beliefs, practices, resources, barriers and enablers. Journal of Cancer Education, 35(5), 946-953. doi: 10.1007/s13187-019-01546-x

27. Forbes, C.C., Yu, Z.M., Cui, Y., DeClercq, V., Grandy, S., Parker, L., Sweeney, E., Dummer, T.J.B., Keats, M.R. (2020). Rural-urban disparities in body composition and contributing health behaviors: An Atlantic PATH study. Journal of Rural Health, 36(1), 111-119. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12363

28. Sweeney, E., Yu, Z.M., Dummer. T.J.B., Cui, Y., DeClercq, V., Forbes, C., Grandy, S.A., Keats, M., Parker, L., Adisesh, A. (2019). The relationship between anthropometric measures and cardiometabolic health in shift work: Findings from the Atlantic PATH Cohort Study. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. doi: 10.1007/s00420-019-01459-8