Innovative SPHHP research continues with announcement of UB's CTSI Translational Pilot Study Grants

News about innovative research at SPHHP continues with the announcement of UB’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Translational Pilot Studies Program awards. Several SPHHP faculty are among recipients of this year’s seed money to assist them in developing promising new technologies and therapeutics from the conceptual stage to clinical studies.

“The projects awarded pilot studies grants for 2024 address valuable translational research and translational science questions,” says CTSI Pilot Studies Program Director Brahm Segal, MD, chair, Department of Internal Medicine, chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, and professor of oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. “These are innovative projects that will advance new methods and technologies to impact health, foster cross-disciplinary collaborations, and lead to mentoring relationships.”

SPHHP projects awarded 2024 CTSI Translational Pilot Studies Program funding are:

• Jacob I. McPherson, PT, DPT, PhD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
• Christopher Stavisky, PhD, OTR/L, clinical assistant professor, Department of Rehabilitation Science

Jeffrey Miecznikowski, PhD, professor, Department of Biostatistics is a co-investigator.

Work-related concussion is a common occupational injury that has received far less research attention compared to sport-related concussion. It results in prolonged lost time claims with negative impact on personal/family finances and perceived life roles and also affects workforce capacity in industries that are already facing worker shortages. This study will evaluate the feasibility of applying targeted heart rate aerobic exercise, a proven treatment approach to the management of sports-related concussion, to people diagnosed with work-related concussion. A secondary aim is to examine demographic and psychosocial factors that may be associated with recovery from work-related concussion.

• Pauline Mendola, PhD, chair and professor, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health
• Thaddeus P. Waters, MD, clinical professor and chief, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

The U.S. has among the highest maternal mortality rates compared to other high-income countries. Rural counties have a greater burden of poor outcomes. Evidence-based interventions to prevent maternal mortality have been developed, but limited evidence and significant barriers remain for implementation and scale-up of interventions in rural communities that lack obstetric providers and have elevated levels of social and economic deprivation. This study will engage rural care provider (hospitals, primary care and obstetric providers, visiting nursing services, etc.) patient advocacy groups into a partnership with the Regional Perinatal Center to adapt and assess approaches for reducing maternal mortality in rural obstetric care deserts.

Katia Noyes, PhD, MPH, associate dean for translational and team sciences, Director, Division of Health Services Policy and Practice, professor and director, Department of Surgery, Surgical Outcomes and Research (SOAR) Center, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health: “Feasibility of Reducing Postpartum Mortality Among Rural Patients: Use of Remote and Community-based Interventions”; “Increasing Lung Cancer Screening: An Urban Primary Care Health Center Approach”; “Impact of the Increase in Availability of Ambulatory Surgery on Treatment Decision Making: A Mixed Methods Study”; “Impact of the Increase in Availability of Ambulatory Surgery on Treatment Decision Making: A Mixed Methods Study’

Gregory Wilding, PhD, professor, Department of Biostatistics: “Increasing Lung Cancer Screening: An Urban Primary Care Health Center Approach”; Impact of the Increase in Availability of Ambulatory Surgery on Treatment Decision Making: A Mixed Methods Study”

Jihnhee Yu, PhD, professor, Department of Biostatistics: “AHEAD—Acoustic Hemodynamic Examination Through AI Diagnosis”