Research Projects & Funding

Title: CAPABLE Caregiver

Description: Adapting the CAPABLE program (which is a program to support older adults to achieve daily functional goals to age in the community) to better support caregivers of people living with physical disability

Available research opportunities (e.g. PhD research opportunity, postdoctoral research opportunity, work study student opportunity)

Contact: Dr. Sarah Szanton
Email:  [email protected]

Title: CAPABLE Family

Description: Adapting the CAPABLE program (which is a program to support older adults to achieve daily functional goals to age in the community) for people living with dementia

Available research opportunities (e.g. PhD research opportunity, postdoctoral research opportunity, work study student opportunity)

Contact: Dr. Sarah Szanton
Email:  [email protected]

Title:  Reducing racial disparities in health: Addressing structural discrimination and resilience

Description: to develop a measure of structural racial discrimination and resilience, test it in national datasets, understand how structural discrimination impacts Health and develop interventions.

Available research opportunities (e.g. PhD research opportunity, postdoctoral research opportunity, work study student opportunity)

Contact: Dr. Sarah Szanton
Email:  [email protected]

Title: Effectiveness of the combined technology-enhanced home exercise program and other non-pharmacological interventions on fatigue, physical function and well-being among cancer survivors (CRMS (Protocol # J1876))

Description: This a pilot randomized control trial aims to examine the feasibility of a 12-week technology-enhanced home exercise (TEHE) program and combined technology-enhanced home exercise and Ear Acupressure (TEHE plus) program among cancer survivors and investigate the effect of the TEHE plus program on fatigue, physical activity and serum biomarkers (Heat Shock Protein 90 and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) compared to control (usual care), exercise only, and ear acupressure groups.

Available research opportunities (e.g. PHD research opportunity, postdoctoral research opportunity, work study student opportunity)

Contact: Dr. Nada Lukkahatai
Email: [email protected]

Title: Effect of a tailored technology-enhanced home-based exercise program on DNA methylation change among cancer survivors with multiple chronic conditions

Description:  This pre-post test pilot study aims to examine the effect of a tailored technology-enhanced home-based exercise (iHBE) program on the epigenetic and identify the relationship among the change of epigenetics (DNAm methylation age) and symptoms (including, fatigue, pain, cognitive decline and resilience).

Available research opportunities (e.g. PHD research opportunity, postdoctoral research opportunity, work study student opportunity)

Contact: Dr. Nada Lukkahatai
Email: [email protected]

Title: A Personalized Behavioral Intervention for Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Sleep Complaints

Description: This pilot randomized controlled trial aims to test the feasibility and acceptability of a 16-week mHealth facilitated physical activity intervention protocol in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and sleep complaints.  We will also test the preliminary effectiveness of the intervention to promote physical activity and sleep outcomes.

Contact email: [email protected]

Title: A Personalized Behavioral Intervention to Improve Physical Activity, Sleep and Cognition in Sedentary Older Adults

Description: This randomized controlled trial aims to test the effect of a 24-week mHealth facilitated personalized behavioral intervention on physical activity, sleep, and cognition in community-dwelling older adults without cognitive impairment. The intervention includes personalized exercise prescription, training, mHealth strategies, goal-setting, and financial incentives.

Contact email: [email protected]

Title: W.I.N.G.S. (Women Integrating, Networking, & Growing in Spaces) Research Study

Description: Funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF9048), we are examining the place-based factors that affect health outcomes of Black young women ages 16-24 in Maryland.

Available research opportunities: PhD research opportunity

Contact: [email protected]

Title: Caregiver Support in the Context of Multiple Chronic Conditions (P30 pilot)

Description: T We are developing and testing an intervention to support caregivers of people living with advanced heart failure. The intervention focuses on assessing the caregiver as a whole person and using a life purpose statement to guide goal-setting related to self-care, instrumental and social support.

Available research opportunities: PhD student research opportunity, DNP student study team positions, work study student opportunity .

Contact email: [email protected]

Title: Heart Failure Resilience Intervention for Caregivers (HEROIC) BIRCWH award

Description: We are developing and testing an intervention to support caregivers of people living with advanced heart failure. We are adapting the Caregiver Support intervention to focus goal-setting on preventive health behaviors and walking during intervention visits.

Available research opportunities: PhD student research opportunity, DNP student study team positions, work study student opportunity

Contact email: [email protected]

Title: Addressing the Digital Divide to Improve Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (ADD2PCOR)

Description:We aim to build capacity for Baltimore community and patient stakeholders to engage virtually by co-designing and implementing a self-paced course, Addressing the Digital Divide to improve Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (ADD2PCOR), to provide participants with basic technological knowledge and equipment. By gearing those who previously did not have convenient internet access with a basic tablet, data plan, and a self-paced course on how to access affordable (or free) wireless internet, video conferencing software, email, and other key sites, we may cover ground in closing the Digital Divide for research engagement. Additionally, we will host a virtual summit to brainstorm needed research to address the Digital Divide and the sustainability of the course. This effort is funded by Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Contact: [email protected]

Title: Developing a Patient-Reported Measure Set of Diagnostic Excellence

Description:We seek to develop and validate a patient-reported measure set of diagnostic excellence. A diagnostic performance measure that gathers information directly from the patient helps assess both the accuracy of the diagnosis (is the diagnosis correct) as well as the patient’s understanding of their diagnosis and how effectively it was communicated to them. Creating this feedback loop centered on the most important person in the diagnostic process – the patient – will provide critical information to achieving diagnostic excellence. This effort is funded by the Moore Foundation.

Contact: [email protected]

Title: NSP II Grant 19-109 Preceptor Education for Vulnerable Populations

Description: F This grant is a three-year project to increase preceptor engagement in the Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner Program. Clinical experience is an essential component of nurse practitioner (NP) education. The goal of this program is to develop and implement a preceptor support program to enhance the relationships among NP faculty and preceptors and build a core of committed clinicians who have advanced capacity, especially in care of vulnerable populations, to teach nurse practitioner students. The impact of the proposed project will be increased partnership between students, faculty, and practicing clinicians, the ability to expand the NP workforce by providing adequate preceptors to a variety of students, and increase availability of preceptor training with focus on topics about care of vulnerable populations. The team has surveyed preceptors for their incentives and barriers to precepting. Out of the results has come an organized preceptor portal on the SON website, populated with preceptor information, a way to communicate to the faculty, preceptor guidebook and continuing education. Five education modules relevant to care for vulnerable populations are available to preceptors for continuing education credit.

Contact: [email protected]

Title:  Prenatal Support and Tri-Core Conceptual Model

Description: Active clinical research investigating online prenatal support for pregnant women in substance recovery, Tri-Core Breastfeeding Conceptual Model in Primary Care and validity clinical research among breastfeeding dyads and lactation education initiatives in Nursing and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner programs.

General pediatrics in primary care setting and breastfeeding/lactation care in the primary care setting.

Contact: [email protected]

Title: Extra-pulmonary symptoms in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Description: This study examines self-reported symptoms in adults with CF after the start of highly effective modulator therapies (HEMT). The primary aim of the study is to determine if and how symptoms including pain, fatigue, mental distress, GI discomfort and sinus-related symptoms change from baseline and every two weeks for three months and at one year after start of HEMT. Second aims include assessment of health outcomes, medication changes, and perceptions of body image 1-year post-HEMT start

Available Research Opportunities: PhD research residency (primary data collection, analysis, manuscript development, presentations).

Contact: [email protected]

Title: PTSD and TBI Patient Outcomes

Description: We will assess the life course experience of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and the impact on health outcomes in a cohort of Veterans who are TBI survivors. We will be conducting brief surveys and interviews with individuals to identify timeline of event to treatment, explore decision making process for seeking treatment and describe individual symptom experience and outcomes on health. Recruitment starts in June, funded by Jonas Foundation/SIGMA

Available Research Opportunities: PhD student research opportunity, work study student opportunity.

Contact: [email protected]

Title: Palliative Care

Description: Using participatory action research methodology experience-based co-design to work with palliative patients, their family/caregivers and staff (clinical and non-clinical) to collaborative explore and identify means for improving palliative care, co-designing strategies for improving on identified gaps. Study 1 is based in the ICU and focuses on palliative care for Black populations; study 2 is in the ED and focuses on adult populations with palliative care needs; study 3 focuses on the untapped potential of non-clinical staff and their role in patient care as understood by patients, families and the non-clinical staff. Study 4 is a collaborative project that aims to use a whole-community approach to improve experiences of care delivery and equity in access to and delivery of palliative care within Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center for patients, families and staff.

Available Research Opportunities: Multiple research opportunities (including research residencies, research honors programs, co-investigator collaboration) for students across post-doctoral, PhD, DNP and MSEN programs to collaborate in different activities from setting up studies, to data collection and analysis, project management experience, and dissemination activities such as manuscript publications and community activities.

Contact: [email protected]

Title: Living with Multimorbidity: Symptom Management across the Illness Trajectory

Description: Understand and define symptom burden and symptom management from the perspective of patients living with multiple chronic conditions, family caregivers, and healthcare providers with an aim to develop symptom management intervention. Funded by PROMOTE Center P30-Pilot.

Contact: [email protected]

Title: NSP II Grant 21-208 Developing Genomics Literacy in Nursing Practice

Description: The planning grant includes the preparatory work of an environmental scan, expert consultation and a taskforce will plan a state-wide initiative to increase nursing engagement in genomics and generate accessible curricula content to improve nursing workforce capacity and patient care quality in Maryland. The field of genetics and genomics is revolutionizing how human health and disease are conceptualized, diagnosed and managed. It is estimated that almost half of the registered nurses in the United States have not had formal educational preparation in genetics and genomics. This project is leveraging academic-practice partnerships to develop and embed genomics content into nursing curricula for all levels of academic preparation, and to engage practicing nurses in a community of learning in genetics and genomics to increase nurses’ knowledge, skills and competencies in providing genomic healthcare.

Contact: [email protected]