Mohammed K. Ali, MD, MSc, MBA
Project Title: Enhanced BReast and cErvical cAncer screening in Kenya THROUGH implementation science research and training (The BREAKTHROUGH Center)
Principal Investigator: Mohammed K. Ali, MD MSc MBA/Chung/Kinuthia (MPIs)
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute
Project Dates: 09/19/2023 – 08/31/2028
Area(s) of Research: Integrated care, implementation science, cancer
Project goal(s): This center grant in Kenya supports and facilitates research to close cervical cancer and breast cancer screening gaps for women living in Nairobi, as well as facilitating the training of the next generation of Kenyan implementation scientists.
Project Title: Georgia Center for Diabetes Translation Research
Associate Director: Mohammed K. Ali, MD MSc MBA
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health, NIDDK
Project Dates: 08/26/2021 – 07/31/2026
Area(s) of Research: implementation science, diabetes
Project goal(s): This center promotes and facilitates research that will enhance diabetes prevention and management in the Southeastern United States through specialized research cores, a pilot and feasibility program, and a vibrant enrichment program.
Project Title: Precision Cardiovascular Diseases Phenotyping and Pathophysiological Pathways (Precision-CARRS)
Lead, Administrative Core: Mohammed K. Ali, MD MSc MBA
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Project Dates: 05/15/2022 – 02/28/2027
Area(s) of Research: Integrated care, implementation science
Project goal(s): In this study, we are examining what factors predict cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes in people living in South Asia.
Leslie Johnson, MPH, PhD
Project Title: Accelerating aDoption of pAtient-centereD cervicAl cancer screening and treatment LINKage in Kenya (DADA LINK)
Principal Investigator: Leslie Johnson, MPH, PhD
Funding Agency: NCI
Project Dates: 09/19/2023 – 08/31/2028
Area(s) of Research: cervical cancer, implementation science, HIV
Project goal(s): Through stakeholder engagement, formative research, and an implementation-effectiveness study, we will test the implementation, effectiveness, and sustainability of strategies to address gaps in cervical cancer (CC) screening and linkage to subsequent triage and treatment in Kenya.
Ted Johnson, MD, MPH and Miranda Moore, PhD
Project Title: Georgia Gear
Principal Investigator: Ted Johnson, MD, MPH
Co-investigators: Miranda Moore, PhD - Lead Evaluator
Funding Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration
Project Dates: 7/1/2024-6/30/2029
Area(s) of Research: geriatric workforce education, Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Project goal(s): To improve clinical care and the quality of life for older adults and their families. The goals of this work are: 1. Develop reciprocal partnerships between academia, primary care sites/delivery systems (including nursing homes), and community organizations, to transform clinical training environments into integrated geriatrics and primary care sites/delivery systems that are age-friendly and dementia-friendly. 2. Provide interprofessional geriatrics clinical training and education to students, residents, fellows, faculty, and preceptors in Tribal, Tribal Organizations, Underserved and/or Rural (TTOUR) primary care sites/delivery systems with the intent to have them practice in these sites upon completion of their program. 3. Establish and/or maintain education and training programs in TTOUR primary care sites/delivery systems that provide the supportive care workforce, direct care workers, and the primary care workforce with the knowledge and skills to improve the care of older adults, including persons living with dementia, by using innovative technology and methods.
Project Title: Georgia Memory Net
Co-investigators: Ted Johnson, MD, MPH (Primary Care Provider Consultant), Miranda Moore, PhD (Population Health Lead)
Funding Agency: Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services
Project Dates: Annual contract 07/01-06/30
Area(s) of Research: dementia, provider education
Project goal(s): The goals of the Georgia (GA) state funded Georgia Alzheimer’s Project, the Georgia Memory Net (GMN), are to (1) improve screening and care of Georgians with memory loss and other cognitive impairment indicative of Alzheimer’s and related dementias via sustainable, primary care driven models; (2) develop, implement, and support regional Memory Assessment Clinics (MACs) to improve Georgians’ access to early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders; and (3) improve long-term care and outcomes for cognitively impaired patients and their caregivers through connections between primary care providers and community partners focused on cognitive impairment and caregiving support.
Jennifer Mascaro, PhD
Project Title: Feasibility study of a chaplain-delivered compassion intervention to improve psychological safety among interprofessional healthcare teams
Principal Investigator: Jennifer Mascaro, PhD
Other DFPM faculty funded by this project: Deanna Kaplan, PhD
Funding Agency: NIH NCCIH
Project Dates: June 2024 – June 2027
Area(s) of Research: Implementation science, well-being, ambulatory assessment
Project goal(s): This project will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a novel team-based intervention that includes mindfulness and compassion-based approaches and is delivered by hospital chaplains embedded within the interprofessional team, and develop and validate a low-burden, objective, and embedded ambulatory assessment “toolkit” to identify interpersonal and objective behavioral indices that can be used to improve research rigor and ultimately expand the evidence-base for effective approaches to improve provider well-being and address the needs of the 21st-century healthcare workforce.
Project Title: Winship Wellness Program
Principal Investigator: Jennifer Mascaro, PhD
Funding Agency: Emory University Winship Cancer Institute
Project Dates: 12/2019 – ongoing
Area(s) of Research: Provider burnout, well-being
This project is a mixed-method study to characterize well-being among oncology providers and to evaluate the impact of new programming.
Megha Shah, MD
Project Title: Dream National: Scaling Telehealth Models to Improve Co-morbid Diabetes and Hypertension in Immigrant Populations
Principal Investigator: Megha Shah, MD, Site lead, Co-I
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
Project Dates: 2023 -2028
Area(s) of Research: Community-engaged research, diabetes, hypertension, immigrant health
The proposed project provides a unique opportunity to address this public health challenge by bringing together clinics and community partner across the northeastern and southeastern US to test the effectiveness and implementation process of a telehealth-based CHW-led coaching intervention for HTN control among 450 South Asian patients with co-morbid DMII and HTN.