Tim Ahles, PhD, is an emeritus member of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). A behavioral psychologist, Dr. Ahles specialized in the cognitive effects of cancer treatments. Dr. Ahles led the Neurocognitive Research Laboratory at MSK since 2006, which examined cognitive changes associated with cancer. This includes studying brain tumors and cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
His research mainly focused on investigating cognitive changes associated with adjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer. His most recent areas of focus have been on the integration of cognitive neuroscience methods and measures and complex systems theory into cancer and cognition research. He was also involved in research on cancer pain management and palliative care.
His clinical interests focused on cognitive-behavioral interventions designed to improve and manage symptoms such as cognitive problems, pain, and sleep disorders. He also looked at ways to reduce stress associated with cancer and cancer treatments.
Dr. Ahles served as the psychological liaison to the Neurology Service and to the Brain Tumor Center. A member of many scientific and medical societies, he was a member of the Quality of Life and the Symptom Control Subcommittees of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B/ Alliance. He was also a founding member of the International Cognition and Cancer Task Force.