Affiliated Research Projects
This collaborative study between UMass Chan Medical School, Vanderbilt and the University of Alabama at Birmingham is developing innovative approaches to enhancing informed consent procedures with a goal of improving research literacy among under-served populations. This project is developing a multi-level informed consent platform that integrates e-consent with patient storytelling and simulations-based research assistant training. The intervention will be tested in the context of six ongoing clinical trials in a multiple time series design randomized trial.
PRC Investigator: Stephenie C. Lemon, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health, National Center for the Advancement of Translational Science (PIs: Lemon, Allison, Saag, Harris)
Dates: 2016-2022
The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to test a program consisting of a telephone coaching and family workbook of informational materials to see if it reduces obesity among children. The trial is enrolling 512 children ages 8 to 12 with overweight and obesity and their family from 16 pediatric practices.
PRC Investigator: Lori Pbert, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Dates: 2016-2022
Translating Research into Practice (TRIP) draws upon the principles of community-engaged implementation science to facilitate deployment and utilization of: (a) regional patient registries; (b) systematic screening for social barriers to care with a referral plan; and (c) patient navigation services into one integrated model of care to improve the quality and effectiveness of care delivery for African American women with breast cancer.
PRC Investigator: Stephenie C. Lemon, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute (NCI) (PIs: Battaglia, Freund, Haas, Lemon)
Dates: 2017-2023
Vaper-to-Vaper (V2V) is a group of mobile tools, such as texting, which are designed for adolescents to help their peers manage their tobacco cravings and quit vaping. The tools building from prior tobacco intervention work.
PRC Investigator: Lori Pbert, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Dates: 2021-2023
This project assembled tools and metrics including ITHIM for use in evaluating the impact of transportation investments on health and equity and incorporating relevant outcomes into decision making at MassDOT and at the community level. Project goals were to identify available frameworks, tools, data and performance measures; utilize existing datasets to develop additional performance measures; develop a framework that could be incorporated into planning and decision-making processes for transportation projects; and provide recommendations for further investigation. UMMS had responsibility for the physical activity elements.
PRC Investigator: Stephenie C. Lemon, PhD
Funder: Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Dates: 2018-2020
This mid-career development award was designed to support a mentorship plan in mHealth research for cardiovascular disease prevention that leveraged the resources and transdisciplinary faculty of the UMass Center for mHealth.
PRC Investigator: Sherry Pagoto, PhD
Funder: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Dates: 2015-2020
This randomized clinical trial compared the effectiveness of a virtual world-based vs. a face-to-face diabetes self-management intervention. The study population was African American/Black and Latina women with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.
PRC Investigator: Wenjun Li, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NIDDK
Dates: 2015-2020
The goal of this study was to test the effect of a curriculum to teach medical students how to screen and assess all adult patients for obesity and offer counseling intervention to promote weight management.
PRC Investigator: Judith Ockene, PhD, Med, MS
Funder: National Cancer Institute
Dates: 2015-2020
The study followed the use of tobacco products, quit attempts, and genetic and environmental factors among study participants. It extended the ability to follow-participants until they are 30 years old.
PRC Investigator: Lori Pbert, PhD
Partner: University of Montreal
Funder: Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute (PI: O’Loughlin)
Dates: 2015-2020
This study developed and evaluated the effectiveness of a social media indoor tanning campaign to decrease mothers’ permissiveness for, and prevalence of, indoor tanning by daughters and increased mothers’ support for policy restrictions on indoor tanning by minors to improve the effectiveness of indoor tanning regulations.
PRC Investigator: Sherry Pagoto, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Dates: 2015-2020
An interdisciplinary team of researchers evaluated the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a social media marijuana prevention intervention for Colorado’s families.
PRC Investigator: Sherry Pagoto, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Dates: 2015-2020
The purpose of the study was to conduct a randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy of an online social network delivered intervention to a traditional in-person groupbased lifestyle intervention. We hypothesized that an online social network intervention will not be inferior to the traditional delivery approach.
PRC Investigators: Sherry Pagoto, PhD, Stephenie Lemon, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Dates: 2015-2020
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a significant contributing factor to skin cancer, yet sunburns, tanning, and unprotected sun exposure remain prevalent. This study developed and tested health messages for key segments of the population who are understudied but at elevated risk for skin cancer. This work produced a library of evidence-based skin cancer prevention messages for use in public health campaigns.
PRC Investigator: Sherry Pagoto, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Dates: 2015-2019
The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of participation in a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction compared to an active control on asthma symptom control and the role of mindfulness, psychosocial, and biological processes in intervention-related changes.
PRC Investigators: Lori Pbert, PhD, Wenjun Li, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NCCAM
Dates: 2014-2019
This project developed and tested usability, feasibility, and acceptability of this web-based weight loss intervention designed for delivery in primary care. This work laid the foundation for a 2-arm randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of the intervention for weight loss compared with a self-directed comparison condition.
PRC Investigator: Sherry Pagoto, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Dates: 2015-2018
This randomized clinical trial tested a patient navigation program financial incentives to an enhanced traditional care control condition for smoking cessation.
PRC Investigator: Lori Pbert, PhD
Funder: America Cancer Society
Dates: 2014-2018
This study tested a culturally and linguistically modified individually tailored lifestyle intervention to optimize gestational weight gain and postpartum weight loss among overweight/obese Hispanic women.
PRC Investigator: Milagros Rosal, PhD (subcontract PI)
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NIDDK
Dates: 2013-2018
This study adapted the Craving to Quit (C2Q) smartphone app, which integrated mindfulness training into a smoking cessation program, for teen smokers (C2Q-Teen). It tested how well this app helped teens stop smoking compared to another teen smoking cessation app that did not include mindfulness training, and to written cessation information alone.
PRC Investigator: Lori Pbert, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse
Dates: 2014-2017
This study assessed the feasibility of implementing and assessing the potential effects of a commercial-free television programming service in the homes of families with children aged 3-6 years old. Outcomes included child pestering for energy-dense foods and parental purchasing of energy-dense foods.
PRC Investigator: Wenjun Li, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Dates: 2015-2017
The purpose of this proposal was to develop and test the feasibility and proof-of-concept of RELAX Application Suite (AS), a mobile-, cloud- and web-based companion to a brief visit lifestyle intervention for obese individuals. RELAX-AS was designed to reduce clinical visit time and cost by identifying and displaying behavior patterns that account for the greatest deviations in energy balance.
PRC Investigator: Sherry Pagoto, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Dates: 2014-2017
This study assessed the effectiveness of a culturally appropriate weight loss intervention for low-income, post-partum women participating in the Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) through a randomized controlled trial.
PRC Investigators: Stephenie C. Lemon, PhD, Milagros C. Rosal, PhD
Partners: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Women, Infants, and Children, Worcester Division of Public Health, 3 health centers
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NIMHD
Dates: 2012-2017
The goal of this randomized controlled trial was to test the efficacy of a culturally and linguistically modified, individually tailored lifestyle intervention to reduce diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors among post-partum Hispanic women with a history of gestational diabetes.
PRC Investigator: Milagros Rosal, PhD (subcontract PI)
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NIDDK
Dates: 2012-2017
This project investigated personal and community factors predictive of MassHealth subscribers with high health care expenditure and special needs.
PRC Investigator: Wenjun Li, PhD
Partners: Clark University, UMass Family Medicine and Community Health
Funder: MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid)
Dates: 2014-2016
This project investigated personal and community predictors of health status and medical expenditures of MassHealth subscribers.
PRC Investigator: Wenjun Li, PhD
Funder: MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid)
Dates: 2014-2016
This project provided statistical evaluation of the outcomes and progress of various programs and sample surveys managed by Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program.
PRC Investigator: Wenjun Li, PhD
Partner: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Funder: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Dates: 2010-2016
This study tested the effectiveness of a behavioral counseling program that 5As guidelines with students in Jordan who smoke waterpipes.
PRC Investigator: Lori Pbert, PhD
Partners: American University of Beirut (Lebanon)
Funder: American University of Beirut Research Grant (PI: Alzyoud)
Dates: 2015-2016
This study adapted, refined and assessed the feasibility of using an evidence-based cardiovascular risk prevention intervention model within Ecuadorian primary care settings, and tested the effect of the intervention approach on risk factor reduction, including: reduction in lipids, weight loss, HgbA1C in diabetics, appropriate guideline-driven prescription of statin medications, and continued adherence to medication by patients.
PRC Investigator: Milagros C. Rosal, PhD
Funder: Pfizer, Inc.
Dates: 2014-2016
This randomized clinical trial studied a neural marker for the impact of mindfulness and explored the impact of mindfulness on maintenance of weight loss.
PRC Investigator: Milagros C. Rosal, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NCCIH
Dates: 2013-2016
This study assessed the association of individual, partner/family, social context and larger community stressors and sources of support on markers of physical and mental health and health care utilization among low-income Latinos.
PRC Investigators: Stephenie Lemon, PhD, Milagros Rosal, PhD
Partner: City of Lawrence Mayor’s Health Taskforce
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NIMH
Dates: 2011-2016
This project reviewed the literature related to dissemination of diabetes prevention programs and assessed insurer willingness to cover DPP as a health benefit or as a wellness benefit.
PRC Investigator: Milagros C. Rosal, PhD
Partner: Department of Public Health (PI: Santarelli)
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NIMHD
Dates: 2015
This pilot study explored the psychosocial and cultural factors impeding maternal care during pregnancy to inform the adaptation of an evidence-based text-based intervention to improve pregnancy outcomes.
PRC Investigators: Sherry Pagoto, PhD, Stephenie Lemon, PhD
Partners: Partners in Health, Peru; UMass Lowell
Funder: UMMS, Office of Global Health
Dates: 2014-2015
This project, a pilot study tested the feasibility and acceptability of a postpartum weight loss intervention delivered via Facebook. Results included information on recruitment and retention, engagement, participant satisfaction with the intervention, and weight loss.
PRC Investigator: Sherry Pagoto, PhD
Funder: Joseph P. Healey Endowment Fund
Dates: 2014-2015
This pilot study aimed to: 1) compare the prevalence of stress (measured at the individual, partner/family, social and larger community levels) elevated depression and anxiety symptom reporting, and sources of social support, between Puerto Ricans residing in Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans residing in Massachusetts; and 2) explored associations between these measures and physical and mental health care service utilization.
PRC Investigators: Milagros C. Rosal, PhD, Stephenie C. Lemon, PhD
Funder: Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences - Seed Money for Translational Research
Dates: 2014-2015
This project developed and tested the feasibility of a weight loss mobile application that included common features such as self-monitoring, goal setting, and a social network, and an avatar-facilitated, idiographic problem-solving feature that processes information intelligently to help patients identify solutions to weight loss problems.
PRC Investigator: Sherry Pagoto, PhD
Partners: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NIDDK
Dates: 2013-2015
This pilot study tested the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a school-delivered, mindfulness plus health education intervention compared to health education alone on dietary habits and physical activity in 9th graders in two high schools in Massachusetts.
PRC Investigators: Lori Pbert, PhD, Elena Salmoirago-Blotcher, MD, PhD
Partner: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Dates: 2013-2015
This randomized trial tested an internet-delivered, web-based intervention to reduce teen skin cancer risk.
PRC Investigator: Sherry Pagoto, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NCI
Dates: 2010-2015
The goal of this project was to test an innovative parent education intervention for smoking cessation using human patient simulation with a child version of the simulator.
PRC Investigator: Lori Pbert, PhD (sub-contract PI)
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NCI
Dates: 2010-2015
This study examined the impact of Massachusetts Health Care Reform on the accessibility, quality and outcomes of medical care for heart attack patients.
PRC Investigator: Wenjun Li, PhD
Partner: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Funder: UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science (NIIH U54 CTSA)
Dates: 2013-2014
This project provided statistical evaluation of the effectiveness of two Community Transformation Grants and the Mass in Motion and Community Transformation Grant programs directed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
PRC Investigator: Wenjun Li, PhD
Partners: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, CDC
Funder: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Dates: 2012-2014
This center grant provided the resources for investigators to create an intercampus mobile technology research center at the UMass Chan Medical School.
PRC Investigator: Sherry Pagoto, PhD
Partner: UMass Amherst
Funder: UMass President Science and Technology Fund
Dates: 2012-2014
This study determined whether incentivizing indoor tanners’ engagement in healthy alternative behaviors that enhance appearance (sunless tanning) and reduce stress (yoga) decreased their indoor tanning.
PRC Investigator: Sherry Pagoto, PhD
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NCI
Dates: 2012-2014
The major goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of a school-based weight reduction program compared to only sharing information in reducing Body Mass Index.
PRC Investigator: Lori Pbert, PhD
Partner: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NHLBI
Dates: 2011-2014
This cluster randomized controlled trial tested a school-nurse coordinated implementation model of an evidence-based ecological obesity prevention intervention among high school workers in central Massachusetts.
PRC Investigators: Stephenie Lemon, PhD, Lori Pbert, PhD
Partner: Massachusetts Department of Education
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NCI
Dates: 2009-2014
Using a pair-matched, randomized group-controlled design in 10 medical schools, this study compared two methods of teaching the 5As of patient centered counseling for smoking cessation to medical students.
PRC Investigator: Judith Ockene, PhD, MEd, MA
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NCI
Dates: 2009-2014
The purpose of this project was to design and test the feasibility of a pediatric practice-based intervention linking the practice with a community-based telephone counseling resource to deliver the American Academy of Pediatrics Stage 1 Prevention Plan to families of overweight and obese children.
PRC Investigator: Lori Pbert, PhD
Partner: UMass Memorial Medical Center Pediatric Clinic
Funder: UMass Chan Medical School Department of Medicine
Dates: 2013
This pilot project developed and tested new instruments for surveying food purchasing and exercise behaviors among older women. The instruments were used in a larger study associated with the Women’s Health Initiative.
PRC Investigator: Wenjun Li, PhD
Partner: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Funder: UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science (NIH U54 CTSA)
Dates: 2012-2013
This study compared two approaches to reducing the complexity and increasing the efficacy of a weight loss intervention for individuals with obesity and depression relative to a standard weight loss program.
PRC Investigator: Sherry Pagoto, PhD
Funder: UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science (NIH U54 CTSA)
Dates: 2012-2013
This study determined the feasibility of conducting a distantly-delivered weight loss and exercise intervention for patients who have been treated for breast cancer at three cancer centers.
PRC Investigator: Judith Ockene, PhD, MEd, MA
Funder: Our Danny Cancer Fund
Dates: 2012-2013
The goal of this study was to adapt an evidence-based diabetes prevention intervention for implementation by Chinese hospitals that serve low-income populations with heavy disease burden.
PRC Investigator: Sherry Pagoto, PhD
Funder: UMMS Office of Global Health
Dates: 2011-2013
This project evaluated the associations between dietary composition and weight gain and loss patterns.
PRC Investigator: Milagros Rosal, PhD
Funder: UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science (NIH U54 CTSA)
Dates: 2011-2013
This randomized controlled trial evaluated a practice-based, culturally sensitive Case Management Intervention that targeted system, provider and patient barriers to diabetes care.
PRC Investigator: Milagros Rosal, PhD (subcontract PI)
Funder: National Institutes of Health, NIDDK
Dates: 2009-2013
The goal of this project was to enroll breast cancer survivors to determine the feasibility of the full Women’s Health Initiative Cancer Survivor Cohort Study. The aims were to: 1) refine procedures, forms, questionnaires, and processing methods; 2) establish feasibility for each step of the study; and 3) assess participation in mailed annual questionnaires.
PRC Investigator: Judith Ockene, PhD, MEd, MA (subcontract PI)
Funder: Ohio State University Research Foundation
Dates: 2009-2013
