Center for Research & Scholarship Research-Active Faculty

Research Focus: My research focus is on the investigation of Integration of Telehealth/Telemedicine training into a Family Nurse Practitioner program, does simulation debriefing increase self-perception of readiness to practice in Senior II BSN students, exploring the role of resilience, anxiety, depression, and stress on the mental health of newly graduated nurses transitioning to practice and the identification and assessment of entry-level nursing competencies.

Research Focus: My research focuses are in health informatics, curriculum design, education and research towards bringing enabling technology to the point of use.

Research Focus: The work environment of nurses including robotics to assist nurses with tasks, Augmented Reality (AR) for learning high level personal protective equipment (PPE) for COVID 19 and Ebola, improving noise and sleep for patients, improving staffing for nurses according to acuity of patients, taking care of sex trafficking patients, including patients in managed care, and improving nurse work environments during a pandemic such as COVID-19.

Research Focus: My research focus is on smoking cessation and the epidemiology of tobacco use with a focus on investigating the health effects associated with exposure to emerging tobacco products, such as hookah and electronic cigarettes. My research involves the use of clinical laboratory models, epidemiological surveys, behavioral science and social media to guide the development of tobacco control policies.

Research Focus: My research focus is on the investigation of mechanisms of impaired peripheral and cerebral vascular function in selected at-risk/diseased populations. In addition, I examine the impact of various acute interventional approaches on these mechanisms. This research bears implications for various physiologic conditions including thermoregulatory capacity, orthostatic tolerance, and risk for cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic diseases.

Research Focus: My research focus is on aging; bone-muscle crosstalk; sarcopenia and osteoporosis; biomarkers of musculoskeletal diseases; and muscle physiology.

Research Focus: My research focus is on racial/ethnic disparities in maternal health (e.g., maternal mortality and morbidity) and birth outcomes (e.g., infant mortality, prematurity). I am interested in examining the social and systems-level factors that influence the health status (e.g., cardiovascular health, reproductive health, mental health) of women of color across the life course. I am also interested in women’s/maternal health care quality and safety.

Research Focus: My research focuses are on: 1) quantitative quality indicators of nursing education, 2) outcomes research in clinical and medical settings, and 3) analyses of population-based survey health databases. My research in nursing education involves identifying factors associated with persistence in our undergraduate and graduate programs within the CONHI using regression modeling. My research in medical settings involves identifying factors associated with treatment success and extended survival using regression models and survival analysis. My research with survey health databases involves the generation of weighted estimates to report health statistics on the national level.

Research Focus: My research focus is on frail, multimorbid older adults and the technology applications, such as a prototype laboratory apartment environment with embedded sensor technology and robots, to support independence and safety in this population. I am also part of other investigator’s work with older adults in medication safety (Xiao) and exercise interventions in heart failure (Haykowsky) where I bring my clinical skills and connections with older adults in the community.

Research Focus: My research focus is on the factors that affect the functional status of older adults, professional identity formation of student nurses and new nurses, and the evolution of social networks among nursing students and new nurses.

Research Focus: My research focus is on the investigation of neural control of circulation at rest and during exercise in human health and disease with a specific emphasis on the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.

Research Focus: My research focus is centered on development of strategies that further student engagement, provide opportunities for students to develop a sense of connection and belonging, and enable them to engage in practice-based activities designed to promote personal growth and professional development. The aim of these efforts is to implement evidence-based practices to support student success during the undergraduate career and beyond.

Research Focus: My research focus is in pediatric critical care and examines a broad range of issues related to pediatric hospital care, including the utilization of nurse practitioners in hospital-based care and the influence of health policy on the outcomes of hospitalized children.

Research Focus: My research focus is on investigating the mechanisms underlying neurovascular dysfunction in human depression, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel therapeutic intervention strategies to prevent, slow, or reverse depression-associated cardiovascular disease. Our laboratory utilizes a multidisciplinary, integrative, and translational research strategy that combines a variety of experimental techniques that enable the interrogation of physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms of neurovascular function in humans.

Research Focus: My research focus is on physical activity and motor behavior in minority and underserved children and emerging adults, with the aim to understand physical activity and health disparities through behavioral and neuropsychological levels of assessment. My research laboratory is conducting empirical research projects to investigate the effects of emerging technology-based (i.e., virtual reality) physical activity interventions on individual’s brain health (i.e., depression, cognition, health-related quality of life) and movement behaviors (i.e., sedentary behavior, sleep, and physical activity) in the home, school, and community settings.

Research Focus: Investigates the integration of telehealth/telemedicine training into Family Nurse Practitioner programs

Research Focus: My research focus is on factors related to the persistence and retention of nursing students, starting in their pre-clinical courses. I am currently investigating both stress and resilience as well as other predictors of success, including interventions that help pre-nursing students succeed.

Research Focus: Our research focuses on differences related to innate immunity and genomic expression differences between males and females.

Research Focus: : My research focus is on cardiovascular response to exercise, diet, and alcohol use in humans. I am currently studying the effect of binge drinking on cardiovascular health and its interaction with exercise and aging. My ultimate research goal is to identify/develop preventative and therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular disease related to unhealthy lifestyle.

Research Focus: Applied statistics, biostatistics and cognitive psychology. Her focus on human cognition investigates: (1) Using Stroop's paradigm with congruent and incongruent colored words to investigate the levels of processing model on semantic memory and process; (2) Impact of positive thinking and stress reduction using cognitive-behavior therapy-based techniques on health; (3) Functional and physiological assessments to multitasking and divided attention with test of divided attention. Her research interests in biostatistics and applied statistics relates to comparisons of traditional ANOVA general linear models to mixed-effects models utilizing maximum likelihood in repeated measures designs.

Research Focus: My research focus is on cardiovascular physiology. Projects include: dynamic blood pressure control in African Americans, exercise-thermoregulation following prolonged exposure to simulated Lunar gravity and baroreflex function in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Additional Lab: Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory

Research Focus: My research focuses on social determinants of health to explain social disparity in health. Specific areas of her research include neighborhood impacts on (1) obesity and obesity-related behaviors and (2) cardiovascular disease. I have published my work in public health and medical journals, including Preventive Medicine, Journal of Urban Health, Obesity Reviews, and Social Science & Medicine.

Research Focus: My research focus is on evaluating factors within and expanding Anderson’s model of health services utilization to include the patient experience (specifically patient-provider communication and patient/family centered care). My current studies focus on unmasking disparities in health services among underrepresented minority groups (e.g. Arab Americans) and evaluating what qualities and modes of patient-provider communication are associated with health outcomes across the lifespan using national health surveys (e.g. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey).

Research Focus: My current research focuses on the development of personalized, adaptable, and timely interventions using real-time data from wearable biosensors to promote physical activity in overweight and obese individuals to reduce the risk of obesity-related cancers (e.g., breast cancer, colorectal cancer), as well as in sedentary cancer patients to improve their quality of life after cancer and cancer outcomes.

Research Focus: My research focus is on promoting health and quality of life in vulnerable population, especially older adults living with chronic conditions (e.g., cancer, type II diabetes, and other comorbidities), through preventive strategies including lifestyles modification, screening, and early detection interventions.

Research Focus: My research is focused on improving care for underserved and rural populations, particularly minorities and those from rural communities. My research centers on improving access and outcomes of care, reducing shortages of health professionals in rural and underserved areas and identifying strategies to increase the diversity within the health field.

Research Focus: My research focus is on investigating signaling of lipid mediators, especially prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and related lipid metabolites through cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 pathways, in skeletal muscle. In addition, my research also will cover the functions of Numb, an adaptor protein, in skeletal muscle.

Research Focus: My research focus is on the affective and physiological outcomes of a variety of physical education and youth development programs. My work has advanced service-learning models and active-learning strategies that cultivate adolescents’ ability to think critically, solve-problems and grow self-awareness/self-control.

Research Focus: My research focus is on three common themes: (1) cardiac mechanics and ventricular function; (2) the cardio-metabolic syndrome; and (3) vascular regulation and neurovascular coupling.

Research Focus: My research focus is the investigation of the best innovative educational approach that will prepare the pre-licensure nursing students in delivering quality end-of-life care to the elderly population, especially the aged population with multiple chronic health conditions such as dementia, diabetes, and chronic heart diseases.

Research Focus: My research focus is on calcium signaling in esophageal cancer and esophageal diseases, nutrient calcium and zinc in prevention and treatment of skeletal muscle and cardiovascular diseases

Research Focus: My research focus is on microvascular physiology and pathophysiology and its impact on bone biology. My lab examines the integrative nature of the vascular and skeletal systems in health and disease (e.g., advancing age, intermittent parathyroid hormone administration, surgical and drug intervention, etc.).

Research Focus: My research focus is on addressing disparities and health inequities related to sexual health and consistent condom use among urban minority youth and young adults.

Research Focus: My research focus is on improving human health by investigating the effects of joint movements and forces acting on the human body and how joint moments and forces can be modified to minimize the likelihood of injury or induce positive health outcomes.

Research Focus: My research focus is nursing education pedagogy and persistence and attainment among undergraduate nursing students.

Research Focus: My research focus is healthcare simulation. My primary areas of interest are evaluation, innovation, and learning theory related to simulation education.

Research Focus: : My research focuses on the white blood cell response to skeletal muscle trauma. I have studied (a) factors influencing this response, and (b) the interaction between the spleen and muscle trauma. I am also interested in the relation between muscle trauma and the biology of aging. The long-term goal is to identify treatments that can expedite a timely recovery after muscle trauma.

Research Focus: My research focuses on symptom management (particularly, dyspnea), breathing pattern, functional capacity, quality of life, use of health care utilization, and underlying bio-physiological mechanisms of diaphragmatic breathing training (i.e., deep and slow breathing training) to reduce dyspnea and improve functional capacity (e.g., cardiac baroreflex sensitivity, pulse wave velocity, etc.) in patients with heart failure or long COVID.

Research Focus: My research focus is on understanding how nursing education, nursing skill mix, staffing ratios, and nurse work environments might be associated with patient outcomes and nurse job outcomes in rural hospitals. I also collaborate with colleagues to study antecedents and consequences of missed nursing care in NICUs. These relationships need to be understood to guide policy recommendations for safer healthcare.

Research Focus: My studies are on how social determinants, especially demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and contextual environments, shape population health disparities. Her research addresses under-explored problems about contemporary and critical public health concerns such as the opioid crisis, chronic pain and disability, the COVID-19 epidemic, and cardiovascular health, using data at both the individual and ecological levels.

Research Focus: My research focus is on assessment, mechanisms, and interventions for motor development in typical and atypical populations, with a particular interest in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and associated conditions (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorders).

Research Focus: Grounded in the translational research approach, I have focused on research aimed at enhancing the adoption of best practices in the community, for patients, as well as for providers. Primarily, this focus has been on patient safety and quality in urban and rural areas. Population-based research, also an interest of mine, is commonly a part of these translational research studies. My technology background and skills are aligned with studying the installation and use of electronic health record (EHR) systems and the associated impact on user experiences, specifically nurses. This research supports the understanding of user experiences and mitigation of potential issues such as moral distress. In 2013 via a grant-funded project, I became interested in the use of telehealth (telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and mobile health) for the delivery of patient care and have also studied in that area.

Research Focus: My research focus is on the integrative physiology of vascular function in health and disease and how the immune system, adipose tissue and blood vessels interact to mediate vascular dysfunction with hypertension, aging and metabolic abnormalities. Also, in how physical activity influences these systems to promote vascular health.

Research Focus: My research focus is on the role of therapeutic interventions including but not limited to exercise, manual therapy, superficial and deep heating/cooling, electrical nerve stimulation, laser, and dry needling on the biopsychosocial improvement of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. I am also interested in sport concussion education and knowledge transfer among stakeholders.

Research Focus: My research focus is on nursing education topics, including persistence, student well-being, and incivility. I am also studying the transition to professional practice which occurs for students after graduation and during the first 12 – 18 months of experience as a Registered Nurse.

Research Focus: My research focus is on the development of novel in situ methods of 3D printing to rebuild and reconstruct missing defects in bone and muscle. Our goal is to induce rapid bone healing such that these procedures can thought of as the same severity as dental fillings and make this current in-patient and long hospital stay procedure into an out-patient and heal at home procedure.

Research Focus: For more than 20 years my laboratory has been interested in identifying tumor-specific peptides presented by the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system for use as potential targets for immunotherapy. As part of this focus, my laboratory developed methods to discover antibodies that recognize specific peptide/HLA complexes that we dubbed as T-cell receptor mimicking (TCRm) antibodies. These molecules share the binding selectivity traits of T-cell receptors while retaining the positive attributes of antibodies. TCRms are highly valued as research tools and my group has used them extensively to study antigen presentation in tumor cells. Additionally, my laboratory has been active in research and development of immunotherapeutic agents including TCRm antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and multifunctional/multispecific protein-based molecules for targeting HLA loaded with cancer specific peptides. These earlier interests led to our most recent project, the discovery of a TCRm, EXX-1, to Qa-1b/Qdm peptide complex, the ligand for NKG2A/CD94 inhibitory receptor. The NKG2A/Qa-1b (HLA-E ortholog) axis is a recently discovered immune checkpoint that suppresses the cytolytic function of NK cells and CD8+ T-cells in the tumor microenvironment. We have shown that EXX-1 is specific for the Qa-1b/Qdm peptide complex and enhances the anti-tumor response against A20 and CT26 syngeneic tumors in mice. In the A20 tumor models, EXX-1 treatment has led to complete remission is ~40% of mice when used as a single agent. Next steps planned are to explore ways of enhancing the anti-tumor response of our immune checkpoint antibody. We plan to evaluate EXX-1 in combination with cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses, other immune checkpoint blocking antibodies and with individual gene products derived from the host mouse microbiome. These studies are being performed using syngeneic tumor models.

Research Focus: My research interests are in assessing whether and to what extent health information technology applications increase efficiency in clinical settings as well as finding and understanding the connection between molecular targets to disease, and to exploit these connections for the development of therapies, and the subsequent benefit in terms of human health outcome. With several trends affecting our health care and well-being of all citizens, the area of Health Informatics will continue to play a vital role in facilitating systemic improvements. I am currently focusing my research on studying how Social Determinants of Health, Health Literacy, Health Information Exchange, Artificial Intelligence can improve the quality of care and have a positive impact on our communities.

Research Focus: The research in this laboratory focuses on the physiological responses of wheelchair athletes to exercise both maximal and submaximal intensities. Other research interests include the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a tool to improve clinical outcomes from strokes and other chronic conditions.

Research Focus: My research focus is on developing high impact innovations to improve the safety and reliability of healthcare through human factors methods and principles.

Research Focus: My research focus is on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuromuscular dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression and to develop potential therapeutic means to treat ALS.