
Our Research Lab
Dr. Amber Kleckner is a nutrition scientist who is working to solve pressing problems in supportive care in cancer.
Dr. Kleckner designs and tests nutritional programs that modulate the quantity, quality, and timing of food to understand how nutrition can help treat cancer and cancer treatment-related symptoms. She also studies the metabolic and mitochondrial mechanisms underlying cancer-related fatigue to help understand its mechanistic underpinnings and tailors nutritional programs accordingly.
The Team
Meet the members of the Kleckner METRICCS Lab.

Amber Kleckner, PhD
Principal Investigator & Lab Director
I am a nutrition scientist who is working to solve pressing problems in supportive care in cancer. Patients with cancer experience debilitating symptoms of the cancer and side effects of treatment that can, unfortunately, persist long into survivorship. For example, cancer-related fatigue can be so severe that it prevents people from returning to their work and their hobbies. I design and test nutritional programs that modulate the quantity, quality, and timing of food to understand how nutrition can help treat these symptoms. I also study the metabolic and mitochondrial mechanisms underlying cancer-related fatigue to help understand its mechanistic underpinnings and tailor nutritional programs accordingly.

Carin Clingan, MS, CNS, LDN
Clinical Research Specialist
I received my B.S in Exercise Science and my M.S in Clinical Nutrition. I have been working in the field of Exercise and Nutrition for over 20 years. I believe that food is medicine and we can use it to help us heal our bodies from the inside out. My areas of expertise are in Women's health and Oncology nutrition. I am also in the process of learning more about the gut microbiome and how it can play a role in gut health not only in the everyday person but also in the Cancer population.

Shalet James
Undergraduate Researcher
Nova Southeastern University
and
Nathan Schnaper Intern Program in Translational Cancer Research (NSIP) (Summer 2023)

Alexie Opperman
Undergraduate researcher
University of Maryland Nursing Program
and
UMScholar Internship Program (Summer 2023)

Maria Rangwala
Undergraduate Researcher
University of Maryland Nursing Program & UM Scholar Internship Program
Former lab members

Shari Youngblood, DCN, CNS, LDN
Clinical Research Nutritionist
Fall 2021- Summer 2024

Ikmat Adesanya, BSN, MPH
Graduate Research Assistant
January-December 2024

Lisadine Cherubin
Undergraduate researcher, University of Rochester
2021

Brianna Harvey
Summer Program in Obesity, Diabetes and Nutrition Research Training (SPORT); University of Maryland School of Medicine Summer Fellowship
Summer 2022

Grace Adetolu
Clinical Coordinator
Summer 2022-Summer 2023

Sumedha Shastry
High School Researcher
Summer 2023-Spring 2024
Howard County G&T Internship Program

Lauren Quick
Undergraduate researcher
Summer 2024
NSIP Summer Internship

May McMahon
High school researcher
Summer 2024
Roland Park Country School and Gore Leadership Program
Pictures
Lab dinner July 2022

Holiday party December 2023

Lunch Summer 2024

Holiday party, December 2024
