Grants and Projects

Impact of a Novel Cancer Communication Intervention on Caregiver Bereavement

Paul Duberstein, PhD. – Principal Investigator; Ronald M. Epstein, MD – Co-Investigator
NIH/National Institute of Mental Health
1/23/2013 - 12/31/2017

The proposed study will expand the focus to determine whether the VOICE intervention will have enduring, positive effects on the mental and physical health of family and friend caregivers after the patients have died. This is the first study to examine the effects on caregivers of an intervention that could potentially be readily integrated into ongoing, routine cancer care.

Meet the CAREGIVER Team!

Ronald Epstein, MD (CoI); Martha Tuttle (RC); Sandy Plumb (PM); Paul Duberstein, PhD (PI)

Research Clinical Trial of Patient, Caregiver and Physician Communication Coaching in Advanced Cancer

Ronald M. Epstein, MD – Co-Principal Investigator
NIH/NCI-R01 National Cancer Institute
4/1/2011 - 12/31/2017

The goal of this project is to test a potentially powerful, 2-component intervention to improve four communication behaviors related to prognosis and treatment choices in advanced cancer: ENGAGING patients to participate in the consultation and decisions regarding their care; RESPONDING to patients concerns; INFORMING patients about treatment choices; and balanced FRAMING of prognosis information.

Meet the VOICE Team!

Ronald Epstein, MD (PI); Martha Tuttle (RC); Sandy Plumb (PM); Paul Duberstein, PhD (CoPI); Kevin Fiscella, MD (CoPI)

Social and Behavioral Influences on Clinical Communication and Pain Management

Ronald M. Epstein, MD – Co-Principal Investigator
NIH/NCI-R01 National Cancer Institute
3/1/2011 - 2/28/2017

The goals of this project are to 1) examine the magnitude of demographic differences in physicians' assessment of symptoms, discussions, and use of guideline-concordant care; 2) to examine whether patient activation mitigates these differences in physician communication behaviors and management decisions; 3) to explore potential moderators of these differences in physician communication behaviors and management  decisions, such as patient-centered communication and implicit unconscious bias.

Meet Dr. Fiscella's RESEARCH TEAM!

Kevin Fiscella, MD (PI); Marie Thomas (RA); Mechelle Sanders (PM); Subrina Farah (Statistician); Michelle Boyd (RA)

Addressing HIV Treatment Disparities through Patient Empowerment

Kevin Fiscella, MD, MPH - Principal Investigator
PCORI
6/1/2014 - 10/31/2017

The major goal of this project is to empower patients, improve patients' health care and health, and reduce disparities.  This project has four major aims: (1) improve patient empowerment; (2) increase patients' receipt of evidence-based care; (3) improve patients' health; (4) reduce disparities in empowerment.

Blood Pressure-Visit Intensification for Successful Improvement of Treatment

Kevin Fiscella, MD, MPH - Principal Investigator
NIH/NHLBI
9/1/2013 - 08/31/2018

The major goal of this project is to promote clinician adoption of a national (JNC) guideline for monthly office visits for hypertensive patients whose blood pressure is not controlled.  Using rigorous scientific methods, the project will assess the impact of a multi-pronged strategy implemented within a network of community health centers.  Project findings offer promise for helping to achieve the national public health goals for blood pressure control and elimination in racial disparity in blood pressure control.

Assessing Trends in Deaths Associated with Opioid and Alcohol Withdrawals in Jails

Kevin Fiscella, MD, MPH - Principal Investigator
NIJ
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017

The major goal of this project is to assess trends in jail inmate deaths from 2000-2013 associated with opioid withdrawal and separately, with alcohol withdrawal.  Secondary aims examine factors associated with these deaths and compare estimates in deaths from Mortality Files for Jail Deaths in the United States, 2000-2013 with estimates of opioid withdrawal deaths derived from other sources such as legal documents, state reports and press reports.

Assessing the Feasibility and Impact of a Team-Based Approach to Integrating Cost-of-Medication Conversations into Primary Care

Kevin Fiscella, MD, MPH - Principal Investigator
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
12/1/2016 - 11/30/2017

The major goal of this project is to determine if cost-of-medication screening questions can be embedded into primary care clinical workflow, and if these conversations result in medication cost reduction.  This project will provide the first evidence-based approach to promoting cost-of-medication conversations between primary care patients and their clinicians and will produce a tested, efficient and practical strategy for promoting conversations that address patients' concerns with costs of medications.

A PBRN Survey of Primary Care Clinicians Readiness for Lung Cancer Screening

Kevin Fiscella, MD, MPH - Principal Investigator
AAFP
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017

The major goal of this survey is to assess primary care physicians/clinicians in PBRN's regarding their readiness to undertake low dose CT cancer screening in their practice, to inform next steps for assisting PCPs in implementing informed decision making, referrals, and tracking related to LDCT for lung cancer screening.

The Rochester Prevention Research Center: National Center for Deaf Health Research

Steven Barnett, MD - PI/PD of RPRC/NCDHR and Chair of the RPRC/NCDHR Research Committee.
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
9/30/14 - 9/29/19

The goals of this project are to continue to develop this national center of excellence for health promotion and disease prevention research with people who are deaf or have hearing loss.  The core research project during this five-year cycle is to adapt the RPRC/NCDHR Deaf Weight Wise Program, and evaluate the adaptation with a randomized trial with adults ages 21-40

Rochester Prevention Research Center SIP - PAPRN+ Collaborating Center

Holly Russell, MD - Principal Investigator;  Steven Barnett, MD - PI/PD of the parent award (RPRC/NCDHR) and contact PI/PD of the subproject
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) - Special Interest Project (SIP)
9/30/14 - 9/29/19

This subproject award establishes a collaborating center in the Physical Activity Policy Research Network (PAPRN+). The project uses a multi-pronged, multi-sector approach by evaluating an intervention in which policy, environmental, and systems strategies are initiated across a range of partners to promote physical activity with underserved adults.

Meet the CDC SIP TEAM!

Steven Barnett, MD (CoPI); Holly Russell, MD (CoPI); Martha Tuttle (RC); Marie Thomas (RA)

Rochester Bridges to the Doctorate for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

Steven Barnett, MD - Faculty Liaison to RIT/NTID, Executive Committee (September 2013); UR-PI (as of October 2013)
National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Health (NIH)
9/1/13 - 5/30/18

In collaboration with Rochester Institute of Technology and RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), to develop, implement, and evaluate a model program that integrates individual and institutional activities to improve deaf and hard-of-hearing students’ preparation and skills as they advance academically from a master’s degree program toward completion of doctoral degrees in biomedical and behavioral sciences.

Videophone Intervention for Chronic Disease Prevention with Deaf Sign Language Users

Steven Barnett, MD - Principal Investigator
Prevention Pilot Program, University of Rochester
7/1/15 - 9/30/17

The overall goal of this prevention pilot is to evaluate a novel methodology (the videophone) for remote delivery of interventions to improve health through primary and secondary prevention.

Video Call Center to Enhance Access to HIV Test Counseling with Deaf Sign Language Users

Steven Barnett, MD - Principal Investigator
NYS Depart of Health AIDS Institute
1/1/17 - 12/31/17

The overall goal is to pilot a video call center to provide language-concordant information to deaf ASL users seeking HIV testing in New York State.

Rochester Partnership to Advance Research and Academic Careers in Deaf Scholars

Steven Barnett, MD - Faculty Liaison to RIT/NTID, Recruitment Committee co-chair, Executive Committee member
National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Health
7/1/15 - 3/31/20

To provide highly trained biomedical and behavioral scientists who are deaf or have hearing loss with the knowledge and skills to pursue research and teaching careers in academia.

The University of Rochester Clinical & Translational Science Institute

Steven Barnett, MD - Leader of the Integrating Special Populations function
National Center for Translational Science (NCATS), National Institutes of Health
8/15/16 - 5/31/20

UR CTSI will increase the impact of transdisciplinary research programs, projects and teams focused on translational research: from basic science discovery to population health improvement, and from challenges in population health to innovations in basic science.