News and Highlights
November 2009
New Grants
Dr. Bruce Schackman Awarded R01 Grant to Study Rapid HIV and HCV Testing in Drug Abuse Treatment Programs
Bruce Schackman, PhD, Associate Professor and Chief of the Division of Health Policy, is the Principal Investigator of a new three-year grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) called “Economic Analysis of Rapid HIV and HCV Testing in Drug Abuse Treatment Programs.” Jared Leff, MS, and Huibo Shao, MS, MA, of the Department of Public Health, will assist on the project, and subcontracts have been awarded to investigators at the University of Miami and Massachusetts General Hospital. Currently, lack of reimbursement is a formidable barrier to drug abuse treatment centers offering HIV testing. This study will compare the costs and cost-effectiveness of three strategies for screening clients for HIV, and explore the option of also screening for hepatitis C once a rapid test for this disease becomes available in the US. Results will assist drug treatment programs in determining budget needs for testing, and will help policymakers compare “value for money” of different testing programs. The study is being conducted in collaboration with a randomized trial of the HIV screening strategies, administered by the Clinical Trials Network (CTN) of NIDA.
Dr. Heather Taffet Gold Awarded New Grant from American Cancer Society
Heather Taffet Gold, PhD, Assistant Professor of Public Health in the Division of Health Policy, received a grant from the American Cancer Society titled “New Breast Cancer Radiotherapy Technology: Impact on Disparities in Access.” Madhuvanti Murphy, DrPH, Assistant Professor of Public Health in the Division of Prevention and Health Behavior, is a co-Investigator. The purpose of the three-year project is to study the diffusion of the use of accelerated partial breast radiotherapy technology across the United States in the Medicare population. The researchers will also conduct and analyze in-depth interviews with surgeons, radiation oncologists, and patients to understand how and why these new treatments are being used. Combining the approaches of population-based analyses and in-depth interviews is unique in health services research and should give both the “big picture” and insights into the nuanced medical decision-making process. Findings from this study will inform clinical policy options prior to publication of randomized trial results, including appropriate scope of adoption and reimbursement.
Dr. Carla Boutin-Foster to Lead Comprehensive Center of Excellence in Disparities Research and Community Engagement
Carla Boutin-Foster, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine and Public Health and the Nanette Laitman Clinical Scholar in Public Health/Community Health, was awarded $8,000,000 in funding for a five year period from the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD), a division of the NIH, to support a Comprehensive Center of Excellence in Disparities Research and Community Engagement (CEDREC). The CEDREC will be a consortium between Weill Cornell Medical College, Hunter College School of Nursing, City University of New York, Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center; and New York University School of Medicine. Dr. Boutin-Foster will serve as the Director of CEDREC and Dr. Mary Charlson, Professor of Medicine, will serve as co-Director. Dr. Alvin Mushlin, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Public Health, will co-lead the Research Core of the Center. More about CEDREC.
Dr. Mirella Salvatore Receives Grant to Study Influenza Vaccines
Mirella Salvatore, MD, Assistant Professor of Public Health in the Division of Community and Public Health Programs and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, has been awarded an R21 grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The title of the two-year award is “Integrase-defective lentiviral based influenza vaccines.”
Dr. Jennifer Epstein Receives National Science Foundation Award
Jennifer Epstein, PhD, Assistant Research Professor of Public Health in the Division of Prevention and Health Behavior, has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation for a one-year project titled “Adolescent Computer and Electronic Game Use.” The goal of the study is to examine the computer use and electronic game use among adolescents to discover their benefits and negative consequences, including their relationship with health behaviors.
