Ongoing Studies
SIMULATION-BASED EDUCATION IN NAVAJO NATION AND RURAL NORTHERN ARIZONA
The aim of this project is to transform the workforce by targeting the urgent needs in rural and medically underserved areas and by strengthening health care access through telehealth. We aim to improve adult and childhood obesity, diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and behavioral/mental health care, for people living on the Navajo Nation and rural northern Arizona; rural and medically underserved areas with high poverty rates and disproportionately high burdens of these diseases. Simulation-based technology will be used to educate undergraduate and graduate nursing students to ultimately strengthen the capacity of public health nurses and better address these health outcomes.
Funding provided by: Health Resources and Services Administration under the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) Simulation Education Training (SET) Program
RESTORING BALANCE IN INDIAN COUNTRY
The aims of this study are to test the effect of a physical activity intervention on quality of life, functional ability and biomarkers of metabolic health among Native American cancer survivors.
The objectives are to 1) expand scope of pilot study to include all Native American cancer survivors; 2) assess the effectiveness of the physical activity intervention; and 3) continue longitudinal follow-up of pilot study participants.
The study is innovative in 3 ways: 1) it is the first study to completely engage Native American cancer survivors; 2) tailors ACSM exercise guidelines for cancer survivors to Native Americans; 3) builds on partnerships between academic, clinical and Native community partners to address health promotion.
Funding provided by: National Cancer Institute U54CA143924, U54CA143925.
SOUTWEST HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH CENTER
The overall goal of the Investigator Development Core (IDC) is to support the development of early career investigators, specifically junior faculty and postdoctoral scholars, in basic biomedical, behavioral, and clinical sciences at Northern Arizona University.
The objectives are to: 1) establish a Pilot Project Program to support faculty; and 2) develop a Postdoctoral Scholar Program to support and mentor postdoctoral researchers.
This work is innovative in that it will: 1) contribute to national capacity for health equity research by increasing the number of post-doctoral and junior faculty receiving training in health equity-related research; by 2) applying best practices of the Association of Public & Land-grant Universities Council on Research and the National Organization of Research Development Professionals.
Funding provided by: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHHD) 1U54MD012388-01.
MICROBIOME ASSESSMENT OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE FIT KIDS CLINICAL CHILDOOD OBESITY PROGRAM: A PILOT STUDY
This study aims to collect preliminary data on Gut Microbiome samples among high risk children and parents participating in a clinical obesity treatment intervention at Northern Arizona Healthcare called Fit Kids of Arizona.
The objectives are to 1) assess feasibility of gut microbiome data collection among Fit Kids participants; 2) gain insight into participating children and one parents’ gut microbiota at the start of the program; 3) assess changes in the gut microbiota following 3 months of program participation; and 4) calculate sample size and power for an R15 application in 2018.
The study is innovative in 3 ways: 1) the novelty of microbiome as a clinical outcome, 2) the target population, and 3) the assessment of microbiome in response to lifestyle intervention.
Funding by: Northern Arizona University