The Indiana CTSI provides funding for special research fellowships for early career investigators in clinical-translational research.
- These awards are designed to provide promising junior faculty investigators with the opportunity to be mentored in research-intensive, multi-disciplinary settings toward the goal of developing careers in translational research.
- Translational research is the process of turning observations in the laboratory, clinic, and community into interventions to improve the health of individuals and the public.
- Emphasis of these awards is to move findings from basic laboratory and pre-clinical research (T1) to the development of new treatment options/interventions or clinical trials (T2) to dissemination/clinical implementation (T3) to studying population health outcomes/health metrics (T4).
- The goal of the CTSI is to make awards at all of these stages.
- It is important that the proposed research has clear applications to human disease and health outcomes.
Early Career Investigator Award eligibility requirements
To be eligible, candidates must fall into one of the following categories:
- Clinician-scientists with a doctoral degree (physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, clinical psychologists, optometrists, veterinarians, allied health care professionals, etc.)
- Basic scientists with a PhD who are doing translational research which involves some component of human subjects research and has high potential for early translation into impacting patient care
Additional eligibility criteria
Early Career Investigator Award candidates must:
- Be United States citizens or permanent residents
- Hold a full-time faculty appointment with their institution by start of award
- Be full-time junior faculty who would be eligible to apply as Principal Investigator on an NIH grant or career development award, but who have not yet been a Principal Investigator on an R01 or equivalent grant
- Be able to identify co-mentors who are faculty investigators from two different disciplines (preferably a clinician-scientist and a PhD-scientist)
- Be planning to submit a grant for external funding (either a career development award or independent research grant) during the first 12 months of the award
What are the benefits?
Early Career Investigator Awardees receive:
- Partial salary support
- Pilot research monies
- Travel funds to attend the annual national meeting of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program in Washington, D.C.
How to apply
Applications for the Indiana CTSI’s Early Career Investigator Awards are due in January, and awards begin in July of each year. The award is for two years (renewable at the end of year one with satisfactory progress).
2022 Early Career Investigator Awards RFA
Questions? Contact Patricia McGuire at pcmcguir@iu.edu or 317-278-2824.
Explore CTSI
CTSA KL2 Awardees
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Veronica Derricks, PhD Psychology, Purdue University Email: vderrick@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Adam Hirsh, PhD Co-Mentor: Marianne Matthias, PhD Title of Project: Developing an Intervention to Improve the Delivery of Targeted Health Messages about HIV Prevention to Black Americans |
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Jamie Felton, MD Pediatrics, IUSM Email: jamifelt@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Carmella Evans-Molina, MD, PhD Co-Mentor: Mark Kaplan, PhD Title of Project: Type I interferons (IFN) and B cell metabolism as drivers of type 1 diabetes (T1D) |
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Lorenzo Lorenzo-Luaces, PhD Psychological and Brain Sciences, IUB Email: lolorenz@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Johan Bollen, PhD Co-Mentor: Claudi Bockting, PhD Title of Project: Leveraging computational social sciences and natural language processing to optimize engagement and response to low-intensity CBT for depression and anxiety |
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Lauren Magee, PhD Public and Environmental Affairs, IUI Email: lamagee@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Sarah Wiehe, MD, MPH Co-Mentor: Matt Aalsma, PhD Project Title: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Improving Behavioral Health Outcomes of Nonfatal Firearm Injury Victims |
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Ephrem Abebe, PharmD Pharmacy Practice, Purdue University Email: eabebe@purdue.edu Primary Mentor: Richard Holden, PhD Co-Mentor: Sarah Wiehe, MD Title of Project: A Systems Approach to Improve Medication Safety During Care Transitions for Children with Medical Complexity |
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Michael Bushey, MD, PhD Psychiatry, IU School of Medicine Email: mabushey@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Kurt Kroenke, MD Co-Mentor: Alan McGuire, PhD Title of Project: Collaborative Care for Opioid Dependence and Pain |
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Allyson Dir, PhD Psychiatry, IU School of Medicine Email: adir@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Matthew Aalsma, PhD Co-Mentor: Sarah Wiehe, MD Title of Project: Utilizing Parent peer Navigators to Increase Parental Engagement in Youth Services: Development and Implementation of an Intervention Among Justice-Involved Youth |
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Danielle Janosevic, DO Nephrology, IU School of Medicine Email: djanosev@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Pierre Dagher, MD Co-Mentor: Kenneth White, PhD Title of Project: The Spatial and Temporal Signature of Sepsis Associated Acute Kidney Injury |
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Monica Kasting, PhD Health & Kinesiology, Purdue University Email: mlkastin@purdue.edu Primary Mentor: Susan Rawl, PhD, RN Co-Mentor: Cleveland Shields, PhD Title of Project: Developing an Intervention to Increase Hepatitis C Virus Screening among Baby Boomers in Primary Care |
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Jennifer Maratt, MD, MS Digestive and Liver Disease, IU School of Medicine Email: jmaratt@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Thomas Imperiale, MD Co-Mentor: Marianne Matthias, PhD Title of Project: Improving Endoscopy Efficiency through Patient Engagement |
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Jennifer Carnahan, MD, MPH General Internal Medicine, IU School of Medicine Email: jenncarn@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Alexia Torke, MD Co-Mentor: Daniel Clark, PhD Title of Project: The Nurse Intervention to Facilitate Transitions to home Environment (NIFT-E) Study |
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Andrea Cohee, PhD, RN IU School of Nursing Email: aamaners@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Victoria Champion, PhD, RN Co-Mentor: Patrick Monahan, PhD Title of Project: Developing the Breast Cancer Self-Efficacy Scale for Partners (BCSES-P) |
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Hebatullah Ismail, MD Pediatrics, IU School of Medicine Email: Heismail@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Linda DiMeglio, MD, MPH Co-Mentor: Carmella Evans-Molina, MD, PhD Co-Mentor: Cindy Nakatsu, PhD Title of Project: Prebiotics to Improve and Preserve ß-cell function in Newly-Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes |
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April Savoy , PhD Engineering Technology, Computer Information Technology, Purdue University Email: asavoy@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Michael Weiner, MD Co-Mentor: Teresa Damush, PhD Title of Project: Closing the Cross-institutional Referral Loop: Applying Human Factors to Improve Consultation Notes |
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Chen Chen, PhD, RN IU School of Nursing Email: cxchen@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Dennis Fortenberry, MD Co-Mentor: Janet Carpenter, PhD Title of Project: Phenotypic Characterization of Dysmenorrhea in Female Adolescents & Young Adults |
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Sara Honaker, PhD Pediatrics, IU School of Medicine Email: smhonake@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Stephen Downs, MD Co-Mentor: Sarah Wiehe, MD Title of Project: Development of Health Communication Module for Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea |
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Stephen Jordan, MD, PhD Infectious Disease, IU School of Medicine Email: jordansj@iu.edu Primary Mentor: David Nelson, PhD Co-Mentor: William Geisler, MD Title of Project: Role of Interferon-gamma in Clearance of Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection in Women |
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Joy Lee, PhD General Internal Medicine, IU School of Medicine Email: joyllee@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Michael Weiner, MD Co-Mentor: Marianne Mathias Title of Project: Improving Secure Messaging in Primary Care |
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Carolyn McCormick, PhD Human Development & Family Studies, Purdue University Email: mccorm37@purdue.edu Primary Mentor: Linda Smith, PhD Co-Mentor: Mandy Rispoli, PhD Title of Project: Translating Measures of Visual Experience for use in Clinical Trials with Young Children with Autism |
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Lauren Nephew, MD Gastroenterology, IU School of Medicine Email: lnephew@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Naga Chalasani, MD Co-Mentor: Susan Rawl, PhD Title of Project: Racial Disparities in Curative Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
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Teresa Bell, PhD Surgery, IU School of Medicine Email: terebell@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Aaron Carroll, MD, MS Co-Mentor: Christopher Harle, PhD, MS Title of Project: Risk Factors for Prescription Opioid Misuse after Traumatic Injury in Adolescents |
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Brandon Gufford, PharmD, PhD Clinical Pharmacology, IU School of Medicine Email: bgufford@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Zeruesenay Desta, PhD Co-Mentor: Samir Gupta, MS, MD Title of Project: Integrative Approaches to Predict Complex Herb-Drug and Drug-Drug Interactions |
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Anne Krendl, PhD Psychological & Brain Sciences, IU-Bloomington Email: akrendl@indiana.edu Primary Mentor: Brian D’Onofrio, PhD Co-Mentor: Kurt Kroenke, MD Title of Project: Reducing mental health stigma to promote treatment adherence |
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Xin Lu, PhD Biological Sciences, Notre Dame Email: xlu@nd.edu Primary Mentor: M. Sharon Stack, PhD Co-Mentor: Liang Cheng, MD Title of Project: Novel Antibody-Drug Conjugates for Personalized Therapy of Lethal Prostate Cancer |
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Olena Mazurenko, PhD, MD, MS Health Policy & Management, IU Public Health Primary Mentor: Christopher Harle, PhD Co-Mentor: Matthew Bair, MD, MS Title of Project: Balancing patient-centeredness and patient safety: the case of pain care and patient satisfaction among hospitalized patients |
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Takashi Hato, MD Medicine, IU School of Medicine Email: thato@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Pierre Dagher, MD Co-Mentor: Kenneth Dunn, PhD Title of Project: Modulating purine metabolism to treat kidney injury in sepsis. |
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Kyle S. Minor, PhD Psychology, IUI Email: ksminor@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Paul Lysaker, PhD Co-Mentor: Sarah Wiehe, MD, MPH Title of Project: Implementing wearable technologies as novel therapeutic tools for Serious Mental Illness. |
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Marguerite O’Haire, PhD Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University Email: mohaire@purdue.edu Primary Mentor: Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, MBA, PhD Co-Mentor: Louanne Davis, PsyD, HSPP Title of Project: Therapeutic efficacy of service dogs for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and their spouses |
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Jenifer Prosperi, PhD Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, IU-South Bend Email: jrprospe@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Sharon Stack, PhD Co-Mentor: Kathy Miller, MD Title of Project: Targeting APC-mediated pathways to circumvent breast cancer chemoresistance. |
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Andrea S. Shin, MD Gastroenterology & Hepatology, IU School of Medicine Email: ashin@iu.edu Primary Mentor: David Nelson, PhD Co-Mentor: John Wo, MD Title of Project: Fecal bile acids, fecal short chain fatty acids and the intestinal microbiota in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and control volunteers |
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Tuan Manh Tran, MD, PhD Infectious Disease, IU School of Medicine Email: tuantran@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Chandy John, MD, MHS Co-Mentor: Mark H. Kaplan, PhD Title of Project: Systems biology approaches to define immunity to Plasmodium falciparum and elucidate the complex host responses during the course of malaria infections |
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Jill Fodstad, PhD, HSPP, BCBA-D Psychiatry, IU School of Medicine Email: jfodstad@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Noha Minshawi, PhD, HSPP, BCBA-D Co-Mentor: David Dunn, MD Title of Project: “Development of a parent-training program to decrease early self-injury in infants and toddlers with intellectual and developmental disabilities” |
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Craig S. Lammert, MD Gastroenterology, IU School of Medicine Email: clammert@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Tatiana Foroud, PhD Co-Mentor: Naga Chalasni, MD Title of Project: “Genetic Repository of Autoimmune Liver Diseases and Contributing Exposures (GRACE)” |
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Troy A. Markel, MD Surgery, IU School of Medicine Email: tmarkel@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Mervin Yoder, MD Co-Mentor: Teresa Zimmers, PhD Title of Project: “Hydrogen Sulfide is a Key Paracrine Gasotransmitter in Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Mediated Intestinal Protection” |
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Tamika Zapolski, PhD Psychology, IUI Email: tzapolsk@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Matthew Aalsma, PhD Co-Mentor: Michelle Salyers, PhD Title of Project: “Modifying and pilot testing a dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) intervention to reduce risk-taking behaviors in adolescents” |
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Laurie Littlepage, PhD Chemistry & Biochemistry, Notre Dame Email: laurie.littlepage@nd.edu Primary Mentor: Sharon Stack, PhD Co-Mentor: Sunil Badve, MD Title of Project: “Overcoming breast cancer chemoresistance using ZNF217 as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target” |
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Jason Mackey, MD, MS Neurology, IU School of Medicine Email: jmacket3@iuhealth.org Mentor: Linda Williams, MD Co-Mentor: Andrew Saykin, PsyD Title of Project: “Advanced imaging of ongoing vasculopathy in intracerebral hemorrhage” |
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Eric Orman, MD Gastroenterology, IU School of Medicine Email: esorman@iu.edu Mentor: Naga Chalasani, MD Co-Mentor: Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH Title of Project: “Optimizing care for hospitalized patients with cirrhosis: The Midwest cirrhosis consortium” |
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Ukamaka Oruche, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC Nursing, IU School of Nursing Email: uoruche@iu.edu Mentor: Sheri L. Robb, PhD, MT-BC Co-Mentor: Matthew Aalsma, PhD Title of Project: “Developing the Family Management Efficacy (FAME) Intervention for African American Families of Adolescents with Disruptive Behavior Disorders” |
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Emily Sims, MD Pediatrics, IU School of Medicine Email: eksims@iu.edu Mentor: Carmella Evans-Molina, MD, PhD Co-Mentor: Linda DiMeglio, MD, MPH Title of Project: “B cell derived miR-21 as an intrinsic protective response and biomarker in type 1 diabetes (T1D)” |
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Timothy W. Corson, PhD Ophthalmology, Indiana University Email: tcorson@iu.edu Primary Mentor: Zhong-Yin Zhang, PhD Co-Mentor: Douglas Schwartzentruber, MD, FACS Title of Project: “Targeted degradation of a mutant G-protein as a novel uveal melanoma therapy” |
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Pascal Jean-Pierre, PhD Psychology, University of Notre Dame Email: pjeanpierre@nd.edu Mentor: Andrew Saykin, PsyD, ABCN Co-Mentor: Rudolph M. Navari, MD, PhD, FACP Title of Project: “A Pilot Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial of Naproxen Sodium to Treat Cancer and Treatment-Related Neurocognitive Dysfunction (CRND) in Breast Cancer (BraCa) Patients Treated with Chemotherapy” |
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Wendy R. Miller, PhD, RN, CCRN School of Nursing Email: wrtruebl@indiana.edu Mentor: Tamilyn Bakas, PhD, Rn, FAHA, FAAN Co-Mentor: Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH / Janice M. Buelow, PhD, RN, FAAN Title of Project: “Development of a Tailored Epilepsy Self-Management Intervention for Older Adults” |
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Brownsyne Tucker Edmonds, MD, MPH, MS Obstetrics and Gynecology, IUSM Email: btuckere@indianapolis.iu.edu Primary Mentor: Richard Frankel, PhD Co-Mentor: Lee Learman, MD, PhD Title of Project: “Using simulation to assess the influence of race and class on periviable counseling among obstetricians and neonatologists.” |
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Rajashekhar Gangaraju, PhD Ophthalmology, IUSM Email: rgangara@indianapolis.iu.edu Mentor: Keith L. March, MD, PHD & Raj K. Maturi, MD Co-Mentor: Alon Harris, PhD FARVO & Carmella Evans-Molina, MD, PhD Title of Project: Vascular and neuronal repair with adipose stromal cells in retinopathy: Sight in place of blindness |
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Shelley A. Johns, PsyD, ABPP Medicine, IUSM Email: sheljohn@indianapolis.iu.edu Mentor: Kurt Kroenke, MD Co-Mentor: Mary DeGroot, PhD Title of Project: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Breast Cancer Survivors with Persistent Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
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Grzegorz Nalepa, MD, PhD Pediatrics, IUSM Email: gnalepa@indianapolis.iu.edu Primary Mentor: D Wade Clapp, MD Co-Mentor: Zhong-Yin Zhang, PhD Title of Project: Discovery of druggable phosphatase tumor suppressor signaling network in glioblastoma multiform |
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Sarah Tersey, PhD Pediatrics, IUSM Email: stersey@indianapolis.iu.edu Primary Mentor: Raghavendra Mirmira Co-Mentor: Kieren Mather Title of Project: Role of 12-lipoxygenase in human type 2 diabetes. |
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Shawn K. Ahlfeld, MD Pediatrics / Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, IUSM Email: skahlfel@iu.edu Mentor: Simon Conway, PhDAssistant Professor of Pediatrics, neonatal-perinatal medicine, IU School of Medicine, will pursue research related to understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants. |
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Lauren Bell, PhD Medicine, Gastroenterology/Hepatology, IU Email: lnbell@iu.edu Mentor: Naga Chalasani, MDAssistant Research Professor of Medicine, gastroenterology/hepatology, clinical pharmacology and cellular and integrative physiology, IU School of Medicine, will focus on investigating the pathogenesis and treatments for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). |
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Jon Duke, MD, MS Medicine, General Medicine/Informatics, IUSM Email: jduke@regenstrief.org Mentor: Michael Murray, PharmD, MPHAssistant Professor of Medicine, IU School of Medicine, will explore ways to improve the recognition and management of adverse drug events, particularly in the settings of polypharmacy. |
| Shoji Ichikawa, PhD Medicine, Endocrinology, IUSM Email: ichikawa@iu.edu Mentor: Sharon Moe, MDAssistant Research Professor of Medicine, endocrinology and metabolism, IU School of Medicine, will investigate an effective therapy for a metabolic bone disease named familial tumoral calcinosis. |
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Philip L. Johnson, PhD Psychiatry, IUSM Email: philjohn@iu.edu Mentor: Todd Skaar, PhDAssistant Professor of Psychiatry, IU School of Medicine, will explore new non-hormonal or selective hormonal treatments for adverse menopausal symptom clusters. |
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Elaine Lipscomb, PhD Medicine, IUSM Email: lipscome@iu.edu Mentor: Douglas K. Miller, MDAssistant Research Professor of Medicine, IU School of Medicine, will seek to advance understanding of the comparative effectiveness of obesity, food and nutrition public policies on behavior and obesity-related outcomes across different populations. |
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Catherine Mosher, PhD Psychology, IUI Email: cemosher@iu.edu Mentor: Victoria Champion, PhD, RN, FAANAssistant Professor of Psychology, IUI, will aim to develop, evaluate and disseminate internet-based interventions to improve the physical and psychological well-being of lung cancer patients and their family caregivers. |
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Brian Samuels, MD, PhD Ophthalmology, IUSM Email: bcsamuel@iu.edu Mentor: Anantha Shekhar, MD, PhDAssistant Professor of Ophthalmology, IU School of Medicine, will focus on the role of the central nervous system and the progression of glaucoma with the probability of directly translating this research into novel clinical treatment options. |
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Ragini Vittal, PhD Medicine, Pulmonary, IUSM Email: rvittal@iu.edu Mentor: David S. Wilkes, MDAssistant Professor of Medicine, IU School of Medicine, will investigate the testing and development of an anti-fibrotic therapeutic agent for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). |
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Zhanxiang Wang, MD, PhD Pediatrics, Endocrinology/Diabetes, IUSM Email: wangz@iu.edu Mentor: Debbie Thurmond, PhDAssistant Research Professor of Pediatrics, diabetes, IU School of Medicine, will study the value of readily available nutritional supplements in restoring or augmenting beta cell function in humans with diabetes. |
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John P. Breinholt, MD Pediatric Cardiology, IUSM Email: jpbreinh@iu.edu Mentor: Michael Sturek, PhDAssistant Professor of Pediatric Cardiology, IU School of Medicine, will explore developing an animal model to allow evaluation of branch pulmonary artery stenosis and vessel properties after injury. |
| Laura Hays, PhD Nursing, IUI Email: lmhays@iu.edu Mentor: Ronald T. Ackermann, MD, MPHAssistant scientist, IU School of Nursing, will develop a group-based adaptation of the Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle intervention to increase adoption of diabetes risk-reducing behaviors among African American women with pre-diabetes. |
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Melissa A. Kacena, PhD Ortho Surgery Email: mkacena@iu.edu Mentor: David Burr, PhDAssistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, IU School of Medicine, will investigate the mechanism(s) by which megakaryocyte growth factors enhance bone healing. |
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Julie Otte, PhD, RN, OCN Nursing Email: jelam@iu.edu Mentor: Todd Skaar, PhDAssistant Professor of Adult Health, IU School of Nursing, whose research focuses on conducting translational research to examine physiological pathways that link sleep disturbances with other common menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors. |
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Joshua Shrout, PhD Microbiology, Notre Dame Email: Joshua.shrout@nd.edu Mentor: Clay Fuqua, PhDAssistant professor of civil engineering and geological sciences, University of Notre Dame, will focus on studying bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and how it colonizes and coordinates behavior to establish infections. |
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Margie Snyder, PharmD Pharmacy, Purdue University Email: snyderme@purdue.edu Mentor: Brad Doebbeling, MD, MSc, FACPAssistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Purdue College of Pharmacy will aim to develop community pharmacy-based interventions that enhance patient-centered outcomes while reducing adverse drug events among ambulatory patients. |
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Brian Decker, MD Nephrology, IUSM Mentor: Sharon MoeAssistant Professor, IUSM Nephrology, will aim to study CYP450-mediated drug metabolism in kidney disease. |
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Jacob Kean, PhD Speech and Hearing Sciences, IUB Email: jakean@indiana.edu Mentor: Andrew Saykin, PsyDAssistant Professor, Speech and Hearing Sciences, will aim to study hyperactivity of the default neuroanatomical network following traumatic brain injury. |
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Sheri Robb, PhD Nursing, IUI shrobb@iu.edu Mentor: Joan HaaseAssistant Professor, IU School of Nursing, will aim to study music-based interventions for children with cancer. |
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Erik Imel, MD Endocrinology, IUSM Email: eimel@iu.edu Mentor: Michael EconsEric Imel, Assistant Professor, IUSM Endocrinology, will aim to study the role of growth factors in phosphate wasting disorders. |
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Melissa Carpentier, PhD Psychology, IU Email: Mentor: Vicki ChampionAssistant Professor, Psychology, will aim study community interventions for pediatric cancer survivors. |
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Rachel Vreeman, MD Pediatrics, IUSM Email: rvreeman@iu.edu Mentor: Edward LeichtyAssistant Professor, IUSM Pediatrics, will aim to study interventions to improve adherence in children with HIV |
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Martin Were, MD Biomedical Informatics, IUSM Email: mwere@regenstrief.org Mentor: William TierneyAssistant Professor, IUSM, will aim to study interventions to improve patient safety in the hospital. |