SCHOLAR:
Grace Liejun Guo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine
MENTORS:
Yvonne Wan, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, School or Medicine; Dr. Beth Levant, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics
PROJECT TITLE:
The Role of Farnesoid X Receptor in Cholestasis and Atherosclerosis
ABSTRACT: My long-term career goal is to elucidate the pathophysiological roles of the FXR in human diseases, such as gallstone and atherosclerosis. FXR is a ligand-activated transcription factor and a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. It is highly expressed in liver, intestine and kidney. Bile acids are the endogenous ligands for FXR. FXR has been proven to be essential in maintaining bile-acid homeostasis and to be critical in regulating cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism. I will use genetically modified mouse models (whole-body FXR knockout, hepatocyte-specific FXR knockout, and enterocyte-specific FXR knockout mice) to investigate the role of FXR in bile-acid synthesis, metabolism and transport, with implication to gallstone formation and prevention in human. Furthermore, we will study the genetic polymorphism of FXR and its target genes that are involved in the bile-acid synthesis and transport pathway in human patients with gallstone disease. In addition, using FXR/ApoE or FXR/LDLr double-knockout mice, we will investigate the role of FXR in regulating lipid metabolism and foam-cell formation, with implication in atherosclerosis development. In summary, I believe that FXR regulates the homeostasis of bile acids, cholesterol, and triglycerides in a sex-specific manner. Dysfunction of FXR will affect the development of diseases in women. Elucidation of these areas will certainly be my research focus in the next few years and the results generated will provide a scientific basis to improve the current strategy of pharmacological therapy in treating gallstone diseases and atherosclerosis.
SCHOLAR:
Andrea Charbonneau Ely, M.D., M.Sc., Assistant Professor, Division of General and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine
MENTOR:
Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, School of Allied Health
PROJECT TITLE:
Weight Control Practices Among Women in Rural Kansas
ABSTRACT:
Coronary heart disease (CHD) has been the leading overall cause of death in the US for several decades, and was responsible for 258.2 deaths per 100,000 population in 2000. CHD is the leading cause of death among women, resulting in nearly 500,000 deaths among women per year. Obesity is a strong independent predictor for CHD, conferring a degree of risk similar to that associated with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, tobacco use, and physical inactivity. Reducing obesity has demonstrated improved blood pressure, lipid, and glucose control. In fact, modest weight loss (5-10%) followed by weight maintenance/control is the recommended first-line treatment for the metabolic syndrome (i.e., hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, low high density lipoprotein, and hyperglycemia), and for each of these disorders occurring independently. The goals of the proposed research program are to further the understanding of obesity among women in rural Kansas primary care settings, to develop a chronic care model approach for treating obesity among rural women primary care patients (phase 1), and to test a chronic care model program for obesity among rural women primary care patients (phase 2). During phase 1, we will conduct a series of three focus groups among obese primary care patients of each distinct primary care practice (i.e., 3 focus groups x 4 primary care practices=12 focus groups total). The goals of these 12 sessions will be to identify a) interest in losing weight, b) facilitators and barriers to losing weight, c) expected role of the primary care provider in diagnosing and managing weight, d) treatment preferences for weight loss and weight control, e) existing community resources for weight loss and weight control, and f) unique environmental features linked to weight loss and weight control.These proposed focus group themes are linked to the following chronic care model constructs: 1) patient self-management and activation, 2) clinical practice supports, and 3) community resources. Findings from the patient focus groups will be critical to the design of phase 2, during which we will pilot test a chronic care model program for obesity care among rural women primary care patients.
SCHOLAR:
Karen E. Kuphal, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, School of Allied Health
MENTORS:
Peter G. Smith, Ph.D., Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, Director, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, School of Medicine, Lisa A. Stehno-Bittel, Ph.D., P.T., Associate Professor and Chair, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science Department
PROJECT TITLE:
The Effect of Exercise on Hypersensitivity Between Males and Females in the Setting of Neuropathic Pain
ABSTRACT:
Chronic pain in females has drawn increased attention due to an elevated number of reports of persistent pain, higher use of analgesic medications, lower pain thresholds with concurrent higher pain ratings, and less tolerance to noxious stimuli than males. Diabetic neuropathy, a form of neuropathic pain, has been implicated as a primary limiting factor for performing self-care behaviors responsible for minimizing disease-related complications in females. Reducing or eliminating neuropathic pain in females could improve adherence to self-care behaviors. Although several studies suggest that exercise can inhibit acute pain in the healthy individual, much less is known regarding the long lasting effects of exercise in individuals suffering from chronic (or neuropathic) pain-especially in the female population. To address this need, we are currently investigating the effects of exercise training on sensitivity in the setting of neuropathic pain. We incorporate models of diabetes and neuropathic pain in non-clinical and clinical settings to examine the effect of exercise in modulating this pain. Our goal is to evaluate exercise training as an effective treatment option to complement a multidisciplinary management plan for individuals with neuropathic pain.
SCHOLAR:
Kristine Williams, R.N., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
MENTOR: Carol E. Smith, R.N., Ph.D., School of Nursing
PROJECT TITLE: Promoting Elder Women’s Functional and Cognitive Health in Assisted Living
ABSTRACT:
Elder women are a vulnerable population expected to grow, reaching 71.5 billion by 2030. Because of rising life expectancies and chronic diseases, women represent over 75% of today’s 1.5 million nursing home residents, which will triple by 2050. Nursing home staff communication is critical to older residents, but research documents that it is infrequent, task-oriented, controlling, and patronizing. This poor communication has been shown to increase elder women’s physical dependency, depression, withdrawal, and cognitive decline. In contrast, staffs’ use of easily implemented communication interventions results in nursing home residents increased self-care, social engagement, satisfaction, and survival with reduced depression and cognitive decline.
Assisted living facilities are fast growing alternatives to nursing homes for elders. Assisted living facilities are logical sites to test communication interventions that promote independence, decision making, and physical and cognitive functioning. This proposed research will identify issues related to communication and functional abilities of women in assisted living. Nursing home communication interventions that have improved resident outcomes will be modified for women in assisted living and pilot tested. Effects of communication on reducing cognitive decline, depression, and dependency, the three key factors precipitating nursing home placement, will be evaluated as a basis for subsequent clinical trial research.
SCHOLAR:
Nikki Cheng, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory
Medicine, Kansas Cancer Institute, School of Medicine
MENTORS:
Roy A. Jensen, M.D., Director, Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute and William
R. Jewell Distinguished Kansas Masonic Professor, Department of Pathology & Laboratory
Medicine, School of Medicine; Michael J. Soares, Ph.D., University Distinguished
Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory
Medicine, Director, Institute of Maternal-Fetal Biology Director, Division of
Cancer & Developmental Biology, School of Medicine
PROJECT TITLE:
Potential Functions of the Inflammatory Chemokines, CCL2 and CXCL1 in Regulating
the Breast Cancer Microenvironment
ABSTRACT:
While studies in my postdoctoral laboratory show that CCL2 chemokine signaling
interacts with TGF-beta signaling in fibroblasts, secretion of chemokines from
fibroblasts has broader implications in breast cancer. Studies performed
in my postdoctoral laboratory have revealed that mouse and human fibroblast
express a common set of chemokines, including CCL2 and CXCL1. These chemokines
may play important roles in regulating epithelial cell invasion and metastatic
spread carcinoma progression. In addition, CCL2 and CXCL1 may also play important
roles in regulating the inflammatory process during carcinoma progression,
in particular, recruitment of macrophages to the primary tumor site. Tumor-
associated macrophages have been shown to promote tumor growth by altering
the tumor microenvironment, in part through secretion of angiogenic, survival
and growth factors. Currently, the functional contribution of chemokine signaling
in regulating fibroblast interactions with epithelial cells and immune cells
during carcinoma progression remains largely unclear.
Based on published and unpublished findings, I am very interested in investigating the hypothesis that chemokine signaling regulates fibroblast interactions with carcinoma cells and macrophages to mediate breast carcinoma growth, invasion and metastatic spread. To address this hypothesis, I will focus on the following research areas:
SCHOLAR:
Nicole L. Nollen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine
MENTORS:
Susan E. Carlson, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, School of Allied Health; Edward Ellerbeck, M.D., MPH, Associate Professor, Departments of Preventive Medicine and Internal Medicine and Interim Chair, Department of Preventive Medicine; Michael Rapoff, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Pediatrics.
PROJECT TITLE:
A Technology Delivered Intervention to Promote Healthy Habits and Prevent Weight Gain Among Rural Adolescents
ABSTRACT:
The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in the United States has reached epidemic proportions. Children and adolescents residing in rural areas are at increased risk; however few obesity prevention interventions have been undertaken with this hard-to-reach population. The use of technology (e.g.,internet, hand-held computers, cell phones, pagers) as an intervention tool may offer a viable alternative. Specifically, these devices, which provide tremendous potential to develop and deliver highly tailored behaviorally-oriented obesity prevention interventions to individuals in virtually all settings, may be particularly advantageous in rural communities where access to behavioral treatment is limited. Given the paucity of data available on behaviorally-oriented obesity prevention approaches for rural adolescents, the primary aim of this pilot intervention is to develop and examine the feasibility and acceptability of a technology-delivered, obesity prevention intervention for 6th grade girls in rural Kansas. Two phases are proposed to accomplish this aim: Phase 1 will consist of a series of iterative focus groups with 6th grade girls and their parents to determine the preferred technology modality as well as the relevant content and themes. Phase II will consist of a small pilot study to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the technology-delivered behavioral intervention. Outcome variables will be measured at baseline, week 8 (end of treatment), and month 6 and will include nutrition and physical activity knowledge, changes in body mass index, dietary intake, screen time, sedentary behaviors, and physical activity. Process outcomes, including program satisfaction and use, personal relevance, and salience will also be measured.
SCHOLAR: Sarah L. Kieweg, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, University of Kansas - Lawrence
MENTOR: Kenneth L. Audus, Ph.D., Dean, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas - Lawrence
PROJECT TITLE: Optimizing Drug Delivery of Vaginal Anti-HIV Microbicides
ABSTRACT:
Microbicides - vaginally or rectally delivered anti-HIV products - hold great promise as new HIV prevention methods controlled by the woman. The goals of my 5-year research plan are to measure and model the biophysical processes governing vaginal drug delivery of microbicides, and to create tools for optimizing vaginal drug delivery. The central hypothesis is that the vaginal physical environment will determine how a gel is spread in the vagina, and will affect HIV transmission and epithelial permeability via cellular responses to mechanical stimuli. The proposed research is innovative because it capitalizes on new vaginal instruments designed to quantify unknown vaginal properties that will be used in new optimization tools. The outcomes of this research plan will be new information about (1) vaginal tissue properties, (2) mathematical models of non-Newtonian fluid flow, and (3) epithelial mechanotransduction, and its relationship to epithelial permeability and HIV transmission. The results of the proposed interdisciplinary research will benefit women’s health because the outcomes are a necessary step to making tools to efficiently design and optimize vaginal drug delivery. These screening tools will reduce the time and cost of clinical trials and help to bring urgently needed microbicides to women faster.
SCHOLAR: Christie
A. Befort, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Preventive Medicine, School
of Medicine
MENTOR: Debra Sullivan, Ph.D. RD, Associate Professor and Chair, Dietetics and Nutrition, School of Allied Health and Edward Ellerbeck, MD MPH, Associate Professor and Chair, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine.
PROJECT TITLE: Group Versus Individual
Phone-Based Weight Management for Rural Women
ABSTRACT:
Women of the most rural counties are 1.6 times more likely to be obese
compared to suburban women, yet few studies have tested obesity interventions
among rural women. Group phonebased weight loss treatment holds great
promise because it has the most reach, is cost efficient, and capitalizes
on the same mechanisms of face-to-face group treatment by allowing
participants to develop support, accountability to one another, and
problem-solving strategies that are believed to be important for
successful outcomes. Although group treatment has resulted in greater
weight loss than individual treatment when delivered face-to-face,
it is unknown whether or not group treatment is more effective when
delivered by phone. The purpose of this proposal is to develop and
pilot test a behavioral weight loss treatment for obese rural women
delivered in two formats: individual phone counseling and
group phone counseling. It is hypothesized that compared
to individual treatment, group treatment will result in greater weight
loss and improvements in diet and physical activity behaviors at
16 and 24 weeks. We will also assess feasibility and acceptability,
explore intervention treatment
process variables that may influence effectiveness, and develop cost
analysis procedures in preparation for a large-scale trial.
©
The University of Kansas Medical Center