Richard Holden, Ph.D.
Brain Safe is a five-year randomized controlled trial supported by a $3.5 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The trial tests the Brain Safe app as an intervention for reducing exposure to medications whose use is linked with dementia.
The R2D2 trial, led by Dr. Noll Campbell of Purdue University, is a pharmacist-based intervention to deprescribe anticholinergic medications. R2D2 is a randomized trial to determine if a pharmacist-based, anticholinergic deprescribing intervention improves cognition and lowers the risk of dementia in primary care older adults with subjective cognitive dysfunction.
The broad goal of the BSL is to prevent harm to brain health among older adults through two projects: 1) reducing the use of unsafe medications with anticholinergic side effects; and 2) preventing repeated episodes of hypoglycemia among older adults with diabetes. BSL employs an iterative, user-centered process for problem assessment, solution design, and evaluation.
Hank Green, Ph.D.
Misty Hawkins, Ph.D.
This study aims to develop a healthful culturally appropriate diet (the Midwestern Diet) composed of recipes specific to the Midwest (test case is the south-central Indiana region) which include pork (and recipes from National Pork Board) and to test acceptability and attitudes toward this locally informed diet in comparison to the Mediterranean diet that limits pork
This study aims to address inequities by inviting Black breast cancer survivors with obesity to contribute their voice to development of a weight-related intervention for successful survivorship and then test preliminary feasibility/acceptability and efficacy.
This study aims to identify and understand the role of environmental stressors in the development of Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (ADRD) and related health inequities across urban and rural populations.
In this Stage 0 study of the NIH Stage Model for Behavioral Intervention Development, we propose to use our novel custom-built Stress Reports in Free-living Environments (STRIVE) ecological momentary assessment (EMA) mobile phone app to measure the experience of daily stress of mid-life adults in free-living conditions.
The objectives of our proposed research are threefold: (1) to co-design a mobile acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) stress intervention collaboratively with cancer survivors (called MOSAIC); (2) to conduct an NIH Stage Model for Behavioral Intervention Development Stage IA study to test and refine MOSAIC with approximately 15 cancer survivors for accuracy and use; (3) to conduct a Stage IB pilot test to examine feasibility of a larger scale randomized controlled trial.
Corey Kalbaugh, Ph.D.
We aim to identify deficits in the receipt of guideline-indicated care among Black patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD). We further endeavor to identify the specific role of physician implicit bias in the delivery of symptomatic PAD-related care and to develop a systems-based intervention to address disparate care delivery. In successfully completing this project, we will have preliminary data to support the development of a full-scale, multi-site intervention.
Melissa Pangelinan, Ph.D.
I examine the implementation context, process, and outcomes of health interventions (e.g., healthcare coordination, lifestyle interventions) to improve health in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Down syndrome. Funded by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration). Learn more here: https://medicine.iu.edu/pediatrics/specialties/general-community/clinical-care/complex-care-coordination
I apply Agile Innovation to increase the involvement of diverse community members throughout all stages of research – planning, execution, evaluation, and communication. Learn more here: https://allinforhealth.info/
Edmond Ramly, Ph.D.
The overall objective of this proposal is to develop and pilot a configurable toolkit for CVD prevention. Four CVD quality metrics will be targeted: blood pressure control for patients with hypertension, and aspirin, statins, and smoking cessation for patients with coronary artery disease. The specific aims are to: 1) characterize barriers to implementation of CVD guidelines in primary care after telehealth expansion, 2) develop a configurable toolkit of strategies to address local barriers, and 3) pilot test the toolkit to assess reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance, including subgroup differences.
- The primary focus of Dr. Robinson’s NIH Career Development Award is determining whether there are racial differences in the cardiovascular responses to a high-salt meal (NCT04244604).
- We have a pending study focused on a hydration intervention (with or without dietary potassium) to improve blood pressure regulation and cardiometabolic health in young Black adults (NCT06062017).
- We have an ongoing study focused on short-term sleep extension as a feasible strategy to improve cardiometabolic health and appetite regulation young adults who report inadequate sleep (NCT05918744)
- We have an ongoing study focused on the ability of concomitant ketone supplementation to counteract the potential adverse effects of short-term high salt on blood vessel function, blood pressure regulation, and kidney function (NCT05545501)
We have two ongoing studies examining the acute and short-term ability of the mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant MitoQ to improve measures of cardiovascular health (NCT04334135 & NCT05561556).
Molly Rosenberg, Ph.D.
Our overarching goal is to expand our successful data linkage platform to identify the optimal amounts, durations, target recipients, and adult life course periods whereby cash transfer income may protect against later-life ADRD. We aim to 1) determine the role of access to cash transfers accumulated across the adult life course at the individual- and household-levels in slowing later-life memory decline, reducing ADRD risk, and promoting cognitive reserve; 2) determine the relative importance of adult life course timing and trajectories of household access to cash transfers for memory decline, ADRD risk, and cognitive reserve; and, 3) compare later-life asset ownership and expenditures on cognitively stimulating resources across households according to their accumulated access to cash transfers.
Karla Galaviz, Ph.D.
Cardiovascular disease is a major health problem among person living with HIV. Despite clinical guidelines recommend HIV clinicians address cardiovascular risk among their patients, this recommendation has not been widely adopted. Using implementation research, community engagement, and computer modeling methods, we will identify strategies to improve adoption of hypertension care guidelines among HIV clinicians.
Type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects the health and wellbeing of rural Hispanics in the US; however, access to evidence-based diabetes preventive services is limited for this population. Using implementation research and community-engaged methods, we will design and pilot-test a health unit model that provides diabetes risk screening, counseling, and referrals to Hispanics living in rural Indiana. This project represents a new iteration of outreach strategies to better serve rural Hispanic populations.
Lifestyle modification interventions can help reduce the disproportionately greater burden of cardiovascular disease facing people living with HIV. Though recommended in HIV clinical guidelines, lifestyle modification strategies are rarely used in routine HIV care workflows. This study aims to address this research-to-practice gaps by engineering a cost-effective strategy focused on integrating lifestyle modification interventions in HIV care using systems science.
Jordan Hill, Ph.D.
This randomized clinical trial tests how telehealth technology can positively affect informal caregivers and patients living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The project will gather data over time to measure the impact of our evidence-based Brain CareNotes mobile telehealth app on informal caregiver burden and patients’ behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, in a diverse Indiana-wide sample.
Becca Lassell, Ph.D.
Black Americans are twice as likely to develop dementia with scarce representation in interventions to support their well-being and stave off cognitive decline. One way to mitigate risk factors associated with accelerated cognitive decline (sedentary behavior, stress, social isolation) are green prescriptions, which prescribe nature activities to promote an active lifestyle and improve well-being. This Career Development Award will build upon Dr. Lassell’s previous work developing a Green Activity Prescription (GAP) program with Hispanic and Latino and Chinese Americans living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia in New York. This project will expand the GAP program to include Black Americans and adapt the intervention for a new geographic location and health care system. This Award will provide Dr. Lassell with the necessary mentorship and training to: 1) cultivate leadership skills in embedded pragmatic clinical trials (ePCTs), 2) gain equity-informed approaches to engage Black communities in research, 3) apply intervention adaptation using participatory methods, and 4) gain skills interpreting data relevant to her future remote therapeutic monitoring approach. The training will support the following Specific Aim: Adapt GAP with Black people living with MCI and mild dementia and their CPs and explore a wearable device (e.g., Fitbit) as a potential pragmatic outcome measure of intervention adherence and response in a future study. This work will prepare Dr. Lassell to lead interventional research as an independent investigator and lay the foundation to test GAP in a pilot randomized controlled trial and a future ePCT to improve well-being in racially and ethnically diverse PLWD and their CPs.
Hispanic/Latino individuals are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and mild cognitive impairment as a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease than non-Hispanic white individuals. Several factors contribute to the increased prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in Latinx groups such as experiencing stressful life events including racism, living in neighborhoods that are lower resourced, lacking access to dementia care and natural environments (green space, parks). Few interventions exist that are culturally tailored for Latinx populations. Engagement in nature can align with the cultural preferences and needs of Latinx populations to improve their health and maintain quality of life and function. Green activity prescriptions can meet this need and involve co-designing nature activities with a person to match their preferences and needs based on available local green resources and include bringing nature activities (e.g., walking pets, table-top gardening) to lower resourced neighborhoods. The proposed study will co-design and test the acceptability and feasibility of a stakeholder-driven, culturally tailored green activity prescription protocol for Hispanic/Latino persons living with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in the Bronx, New York. Applying a participatory the intervention will be co-design and culturally tailored with Hispanic/Latino persons living with mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, their care partners, domain experts, and local healthcare and green organizations (stakeholders) (Aim 1). Next, acceptability and feasibility will be assessed (Aim 2). Findings will inform an application for an R61/R33 to pilot the intervention in a randomized controlled trial.
This study will iteratively develop and test the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week green activity program among Chinese American people living with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia, referred to as people living with memory loss (PLML) and their family members/care partners. Development of the intervention will be guided by focus groups and informal conversations consisting of healthcare and outdoor professional partners, and dyads (Chinese American PLML and their professional care partners). Participants will also identify preferred recruitment strategies and meaningful outcomes to prepare the green intervention for future pilot testing.