Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Program Grant
Dr. Sara Migliarese, PT, PhD funded by Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living (ACL)
The project is to research and provide access to evidence-based fall prevention programs, which is limited or absent in much of the western Piedmont area of North Carolina. The gap is felt in a greater extent by underserved older adults. For the purposes of this project, targeted underserved older adults include those in rural counties, those who lack access to health education and services due to financial limitations, and those who may have language barriers. The programs that this grant/project intends to grow will address this gap. Awarded to Winston-Salem State University and its partners, in the amount of $147,626.00, the project includes: Dr. Sara Migliarese (PI), Dr. Nancy Smith, Dr. Christina Criminger, and Dr. LaVerne Garner from the Department of Physical Therapy, Dr. Megan Edwards Collins and Dr. Cynthia Bell from the Department of Occupational Therapy, and Karen Bartoletti from the Northwest YMCA.
UNC-REACH: Research Engagement Addressing Community Health
Dr. Cynthia Williams-Brown, Dr. Dionne Roberts, Dr. Gloria H. Elliott, (NC A&T) funded by University of North Carolina System
REACH: Research Engagement Addressing Community Health” is a one-year collaborative project to provide opportunities to expose HBCU undergraduates to health equity research while educating them on conditions that may be prominent in their own communities. The goals of Project REACH are to: (1) create a mentored research experience for selected minority undergraduate students and pair them with a faculty-mentor to conduct health equity research; (2) increase awareness, engagement, and interest of students of health equity research and health-related research careers, (3) implement and evaluate a model to increase research opportunities for HBCU undergraduate student engagement. Her award of $35,000 will support and train 5-student researchers as well as provide faculty-mentoring, professional development, health equity education, community engagement and outreach, and interdepartmental and inter-institutional collaboration opportunities.
POINTER-zzz: Sleep Ancillary to U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
Dr. Doris Molina-Henry funded by Wake Forest University Health Sciences, and NIH-National Institutes for Aging (NIA)
The project is an independent exploratory study investigating vascular biomarkers linked to Alzheimer’s Disease by leveraging rich ADRC data resources and examining relationships between biomarkers and other available specimen data, peripheral markers of vascular and metabolic health and cognition. Furthermore, biomarker data will also be related to brain imaging outcomes. Research activities include performing, analyzing and interpreting molecular biomarker assays, analysis and interpretation of a variety of neuroimaging applications, development and execution of clinical trial research, as well as the use of statistical tools to accurately analyze clinical trial data.
Indices for Accelerated Aging in Obesity and Diabetes: A Diversity Supplement to the look AHEAD Study
Felicia Griffin
In collaboration with Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Action for Health in Diabetes Extension Study Biostatistics Research Center, Dr. Felicia Griffin’s project Indices for Accelerated Aging in Obesity and Diabetes: A Diversity Supplement to the look AHEAD Study is an observational cohort study following 4,000 participants with new assessments of the health problems of greatest concern in older, obese individuals with Type 2 Diabetes. The project addresses important public health priorities for a rapidly growing under-studied segment of the US population in a cost-effective manner.
Rehabilitation of Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Rehabilitation Counselor Training in a Virtual Environment
Dr. Robin Dock funded by US Department of Education
A six-year project led by Dr. Robin Dock, Rehabilitation of Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Rehabilitation Counselor Training in a Virtual Environment, utilizes distance learning modalities, while integrating highly interactive web-based conferencing and an on-line course management system to increase flexibility, accessibility, and on-going support for adult learners to continue their education while maintaining their jobs and family responsibilities. The project increases the supply of qualified Rehabilitation Counselors to assist consumers of the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies, by improving the specialized skills of VR counseling scholars so that upon successful completion of their Rehabilitation Counseling master’s degree program, they are prepared to effectively meet the needs and demands of consumers with disabilities and employers, specifically consumers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
