Fostering research in a collaborative environment

PT Students working with VROne of the top research universities in the state, the VCU College of Health Professions cultivates transformational research and innovation through collaborative partnerships, the university and with external stakeholders. Our efforts promote teaching and community engagement that impact health care delivery and health outcomes across Virginia and beyond.

Fiscal year 2024 to date, November 9, 2023: 22 funded proposals, 20 principal investigators, $4,544,802 in total award dollars
Principal Investigator Department Project Title Originating Sponsor Proposed period of performance Total amount of requested funding
Adam Atherly Health Administration Measuring the Impact of the Value Flower and Unobserved Heterogeneity on the Cost Effectiveness and Use of Novel Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias National Institute on Aging/NIH DHHS 6/15/23  - 5/31/28 $2,406,790
Tanu Bhargava Physical Therapy/sub with School of Education IPA - Richmond VA McGuire VA Medical Center 5/1/2023 - 4/30/2025 $3,750
Shaaron Brown Physical Therapy General Movement Optimality Score as a Biomarker in Early Detection of Neurodevelopmental Disability in Extremely Preterm Infants American Physical Therapy Association 9/1/23  - 8/31/24 $10,000
Nathan Carroll Health Administration Implementation of Decision-Aid for Lupus in Practice Settings for Shared Decision-Making (SOM): IDEAL Study: 2021 Cost of Implementation Supplement Subaward w/ University of Alabama at Birmingham - PCORI 12/15/2021 - 12/14/2023 $47,796
Virginia Chu Occupational Therapy Predictive ability of early somatosensory processing in preterm children on later motor development National Institutes of Child  Health and Human Development/NIH/DHSS 5/01/2023 - 4/30/2028 $2,570,261
Nicole Damico Nurse Anesthesia Nurse Anesthesia Traineeship Health Resources and Services Administration/DHHS 07/1/23 - 06/30/24 $138,807
Benjamin Darter Physical Therapy Exploring the impact of microprocessor-controlled knees on prosthesis awareness and overall health Department of Defense 07/01/22 - 06/30/25 $1,971,886
Benjamin Darter Physical Therapy Comparing the attentional demands and functional outcomes of pattern recognition and direct myoelectric control in people with transradial amputation Department of Defense 09/25/23 - 09/24/27 $3,995,791
Benjamin Darter Physical Therapy IPA- Richmond VA McGuire VA Medical Center 5/1/23 - 4/30/25 $70,064
Yonella Demars Radiation Sciences Pathways for Authentic Teaching of Health Sciences (PATHS) Subproject with School of Education /  National Institutes of Health 07/01/22 - 06/30/27 $42,637
Tracey Gendron Gerontology Development of a Trauma-informed Care: Resilience and Well-Being Toolkit for Nursing Facilities Virginia Department for Medical Assistance 10/29/21 - 06/30/24 $552,591
Denise Hall Rehabilitation Counseling DBHDS Peer Recovery Project 2021-2022 Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services 10/25/21 - 01/31/23 $197,312
Carolyn Hawley Rehabilitation Counseling Virginia Partnership for Gaming & Gambling Services Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services 03/03/22 - 03/02/24 $813,270
Jiale Gary Hu Nurse Anesthesia Creating an Open Education Resource regarding Crisis Resource Management for Nurse Anesthesia Students and Medical Students Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) 07/01/21 - 06/30/24 $22,500
Jiale Gary Hu Nurse Anesthesia A mixed methods study to investigate nurse anesthetists? and anesthesiologists? implementation of crisis resource management FULD (Helen) Health Fund 05/01/21 04/30/23 $5,000
Jenny Inker Gerontology Developing a palliative care pathway: An Innovative standard of care for people living with dementia and their care team Riverside Center for Excellence in Aging and Lifelong Health 7/1/2023 - 6/30/2026 $30, 775
Melissa Jamerson Medical Laboratory Sciences Commonwealth Transfusion Foundation 2023 Scholarship Grant Commonwealth Transfusion Foundation 10/1/2023 - 9/30/2024 $108,000
Melissa Jamerson Medical Laboratory Sciences Immunohematology Student Laboratory Session Commonwealth Transfusion Foundation 03/01/23 - 04/01/24 $10,226
Saleema Karim Health Administration How have rural hospitals' financial performance, operating performance, and scopes of service offered changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic American Hospital Association 02/16/23 - 02/15/24 $99,968
Sarah Marrs Center on Aging HEAR: Helping Elders Access Resources Administration for Community Living (ACL) 09/01/22 - 08/31/24 $1,310,978
Laura McClelland Health Administration IPA- Central Virginia VA health Care System (CVHCS) McGuire VA Medical McGuire VA Medical Center 11/01/23 - 12/31/24 $87,734
Jessica Mittler Health Administration SOM-20025557: A patient-centered map of gaps in the care of NASH Health Administration sub/ with Internal Medicine - Gastroenterology 08/14/22 - 08/13/25 $45,208
Rebecca Molinini Physical Therapy Exploring Emotional Availability During Parent-Child Interaction in Children with Developmental Delays National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/NIH/DHHS 08/01/21 - 07/31/24 $85,988
Courtney O'Hara Center on Aging Virginia Services, Training, Officers, Prosecution (VSTOP) Virginia Department of Criminal Justice 01/01/22 - 12/31/23 $164,526
Peter Pidcoe Physical Therapy iTREAT - Improved Treatment using Advanced Technologies Commonwealth Health Research Board 07/1/23 - 06/30/25 $99,228
Christine Reid Rehabilitation Counseling Rehabilitation Counseling Long-Term Training through Distance Learning or On-Campus Options, Including Telerehabilitation Expertise Office of Special Education & Rehabilitative Services/Department of Education 10/01/20 - 09/30/25 $600,000
Christine Reid Rehabilitation Counseling Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Long-Term Training Department of Education 10/01/19 - 09/30/24 $800,000
Daniel Riddle Physical Therapy Social Determinants and Timelines of Total Knee Replacement: A National Perspective Subaward w/ Northeastern University/ National Institutes of Health 3/19/2021 - 10/31/2023 $28,792
Daniel Riddle Physical Therapy Duke Pain Early - phase Research Clinical Center (PERC) Duke University 09/15/19 - 03/31/24 $59,212
Daniel Riddle Physical Therapy Reconciling Good and Poor Outcome Findings from Appropriateness Classifications and Latent Growth Curves of Knee Arthroplasty Pain and Function: Determining the Best of Both Worlds Pfizer Inc., U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group 05/26/22 - 05/25/23 $149,347
Daniel Riddle Physical Therapy The SCEPTER Trail - IPA Department of Veterans Affairs 03/19/21 - 09/30/23 $123,569
Edward Syrett Physical Therapy IPA - Richmond VA McGuire VA Medical Center 5/1/2023 - 4/30/2025 $3,750
Paula Song Health Administration NC Medicaid 1115 Waiver Evaluation Implementation year 2 continuation award University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill / NC Department of Health and Human Services 07/01/21 - 06/30/23 $212,677
Christina Spence Physical Therapy/ sub with School of Education Workforce Ready: Supporting Community College Faculty to Prepare Scholars Serving Diverse Young Children with Disabilities Sub with SOE Spec Ed and DP Department/ Department od Education 10/1/23 - 9/30/28 $180,873
James Thomas Physical Therapy Virtual Immersive Gaming to Optimize Recovery in Low Back Pain National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/NIH/DHHS 11/01/18 - 11/30/23 $2,313,283
Christopher Wagner Rehabilitation Counseling Long-Term Training - Mental Illness Office of Special Education & Rehabilitative Services/Department of Education 10/01/19 - 09/30/24 $600,000
Bert Leland Waters Center on Aging  Virginia Long Term Care Facility Network Sub with Geriatrics / Virginia Department of Health 07/01/22 - 06/31/24 $333,023
Bert Leland Waters Center on Aging sub/ with Geriatrics Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) Health Resources and Services Administration/DHHS 01/01/19 - 06/30/24 $3,534,521
E. Ayn Welleford Gerontology Statewide Gerontology, Individual Service and other Adult provider trainings LIC-22-007 Mod 2 Virginia Department of Social Services 09/09/21 - 06/30/23 $406,844
E. Ayn Welleford Gerontology Statewide Gerontology, Individual Service and other Adult provider trainings LIC-22-111 Mod 1 Virginia Department of Social Services 05/16/22 - 06/2023 $249,992
Kelsey White Patient Counseling Spiritual Care & Community Wellness Rush University 07/01/22 - 06/30/23 $30,000
Kelsey White Patient Counseling Spiritual Care Services in Acute Care Hospitals Rush University 05/01/23 -  04/30/25 $50,000
Kelsey White Patient Counseling Spiritual Care services in Pediatric Hospitals and Cancer Centers Rush University 06/01/23 -  05/31/25 $50,000
Faika Zanjani Gerontology VCU Richmond Brain Health Collaborative Administration for Community Living/DHHS 09/01/22 - 08/31/23 $1,191,219