For the past 20 years she has focused her research on supporting informed treatment decisions in people living with cancer interested in using complementary therapies. Balneaves is the the principal investigator of the Complementary Medicine Education and Outcomes (CAMEO) research program, which has developed and evaluated a variety of education and decision support interventions aimed at helping cancer patients and health professionals make evidence-informed decisions about complementary therapies. She has also conducted health services and policy research on the use of medical cannabis in Canada. Currently, Balneaves is the president-elect of the Society for Integrative Oncology and is board member for the International Society for Complementary Medicine Research organization. She has received the Canadian Cancer Society Research Scientist Award and the CIHR New Investigator Award.