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Digital Health Conference Nov. 30

UAMS’ first Digital Health Conference will be Friday, Nov. 30, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., at Reynolds Institute on Aging. View the agenda. There is no charge for attendance but you must register. Space is limited, so Register Now.

Hear from leaders in the field how emerging digital technologies, such as mobile apps, wearable biomonitors, predictive analytics and artificial intelligence, are transforming health care.

Question? Contact: Anita Walden, acwalden@uams.edu, or Aaron Kemp, ASKemp@uams.edu.

The conference is sponsored by the Office of Interprofessional Education, with support from the South Central Telehealth Resource Center and the Translational Research Institute (TRI).

UAMS Staff Recognized by International Group for Research Education Efforts

For a record seventh year in a row, the Arkansas chapter of the international Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA) has been recognized for ensuring the highest quality research by providing the most continuing education hours of any chapter. The annual Chapter Chairperson Recognition Award was presented to Carrie Chiaro, M.P.H., C.C.R.P., from the UAMS Office of Research Compliance, who co-chairs the SOCRA chapter with Melisa Clark, M.S., C.C.R.P., from the UAMS Office of Research Regulatory Affairs.

The Arkansas chapter is the only one of 50+ volunteer chapters to win the award seven consecutive years.

SOCRA chapters offer no-cost clinical research continuing education to enhance research quality, to protect research participants, and to improve the health of the global community.

Also during the annual meeting in New Orleans, Amy Jo Jenkins, M.S., C.C.R.P., C.C.R.A., C.C.R.C., executive director of the UAMS Translational Research Institute, was named president-elect of the SOCRA Board of Directors. Jenkins, a past chapter chairperson, said the chapter’s continued success is due to the participation, collaboration, and common goals of the state’s research professionals.

“UAMS support, particularly from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, the Translational Research Institute, Office of Research Regulatory Affairs, and the Office of Research Compliance, has allowed the chapter to flourish over the last seven years,” Jenkins said. “While the award is technically given to one person, we know that it is our whole membership and those that support us that contribute to our success.”

The Arkansas chapter provided 15.5 continuing education credit hours from June 1, 2017, to May 31, 2018.

“The continuing education we provide ultimately improves the quality of research in our state and enhances the experience and protection of our valued participants,” Jenkins said.

The chapter also provides an avenue for career growth and development, including training and resources for new research staff and the opportunity to earn an accredited professional certification (certified clinical research professional – CCRP) that is recognized internationally by the clinical research industry as evidence of advanced competency in the profession.

The continuing education hours offered by the Arkansas SOCRA chapter also help research staff at UAMS and other sites earn or maintain their Certified Research Specialist (CRS) certification. The CRS certification program, administered by the UAMS Office of Research Compliance, ensures an understanding of, and respect for, the principles of research integrity and the protection of those who participate in research. Although the certification is not required by all departments, UAMS research employees routinely complete the 28 hours of coursework and the comprehensive CRS proficiency exam.

ARresearch ‘Kick-Starts’ Digital Health Study Enrollment

A UAMS NIH-funded digital health study needed 128 participants with mild to moderate depression. Within 10 weeks, it had 103, well ahead of schedule, said Carolyn Greene, Ph.D., who is leading the study. TRI’s ARresearch registry of volunteers, she said, has provided about 20 participants.

“That was a good way for us to kick-start this study,” said Greene, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Division of Health Services Research.

Greene’s study is targeting UAMS primary care patients with untreated depression. She said finding such patients for her study is difficult because they may not be coming in for regular doctor visits, or may not feel comfortable discussing their mental health with their doctors.

“That’s where the ARresearch database was extremely helpful to us,” she said.

Greene, who is also the national manager of Mental Health Web Services at the Department of Veterans Affairs, said the study is conducted online or over the phone, from screening to receipt of a gift card for participants.

For eight weeks, a coach will help patients with downloading and using a portfolio of mobile apps, and provide encouragement.

The apps use evidence-based cognitive behavioral tools and have shown that they can help significantly reduce depression. Greene’s study will address how the apps, combined with a coach, could fit into UAMS’ system of care.

“The goal isn’t for the coach to replace a therapist, but to help them use the apps to learn skills and tools to become their own therapist,” Greene said.

The study includes gathering input from clinicians and administrators.

“Our goal is to solve a problem for the primary care clinics, which have many patients with mild to moderate depression but not a lot of resources to provide interventions,” she said.

The October TRIbune Is Out!

In this month’s TRIbune we’re highlighting digital health research successes. For Tamara Perry, M.D., years of dedication developing an asthma application to help teens got a big shot in the arm with a $3.1 million NIH grant. Her app will be tested with 400 asthma patients over the next five years. Perry used data and a prototype app developed with a TRI pilot award and a follow-up pilot from Arkansas Children’s Research Institute to help secure the NIH funding. Carolyn Greene, Ph.D., said TRI’s ARresearch registry of volunteers was a great way to kick-start enrollment for her digital health study seeking participants with depression. This issue also announces UAMS’ first Digital Health Conference on Nov. 30. Our Research on the Horizon features Rohit Dhall, M.D., who is the local principal investigator on an industry-sponsored Parkinson’s disease study. As always, we feature the latest TRI-cited publications.
Read the October TRIbune.

TRI Open House ‘Eye-Opening’ for Researchers

Oleg Karaduta, M.D., visits the information booths at TRI's Open House.
Oleg Karaduta, M.D., visits the Office of Research Compliance booth at TRI’s Open House.

Oleg Karaduta, M.D., made the rounds at TRI’s recent Open House, loading his bag with information cards, brochures and flyers from the 26 research services being promoted. While many are relevant to his work, the Mock Study Section/Grant Review program really caught his eye.

“I am planning to submit a grant application in a couple of months, so the Mock Study Section will be really useful for me,” said Karaduta, a post-doctoral fellow, referring to his NIH R00 Pathway to Independence application.

TRI’s Mock Study Section/Grant Review program assembles experienced NIH-funded researchers to review applications at no cost.

The Aug. 28 Open House, held for a second year, this time included representatives from the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, UAMS IRB and Research Pharmacy.

Among the nearly 100 attendees was Jonathan Laryea, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Surgery.   “I know about some of the services, but having everything together in one place is very helpful,” Laryea said. “I think it’s eye opening.”

Kate Stewart, M.D., (left) and Rachel Hale, representing TRI's Community Engagement component, talk to visitors during the Open House.
Kate Stewart, M.D., (left) and Rachel Hale, representing TRI’s Community Engagement component, talk to visitors during the Open House.

Leah Dawson, Ph.D., said in an email she was familiar with TRI but didn’t fully appreciate its scope until the Open House.

“Visually it provided a picture of how far reaching TRI is on our campus by the sheer number of people and departments that were involved,” said Dawson, associate director of Clinical Trials at the Data Coordinating and Operations Center of the IDeA States Pediatric Network, UAMS College of Medicine. “I think TRI provides a common atmosphere for researchers to come together, which only betters the university and the research programs on campus.”

Dawson said she made it a point to talk to TRI’s Community Engagement Team to catch up on their activities. “I think they are a great asset to our university system and state,” she said.

Two breast cancer fellows, Sherry Johnson, D.O., and Michalina (Michelle) Kupsik, M.D., said the timing for the Open House couldn’t have been better. They were due to report on their research project plans the day after the Open House but still needed key information.

Helpful guidance came from the Arkansas Clinical Data Repository table with information about accessing de-identified UAMS clinical data. “We knew our clinical question but we didn’t know how we were going to get the data,” Kupsik said.

Michalina (Michelle) Kupsik, M.D., (center, white coat), and Sherry Johnson, D.O., (right) found the Open House to be helpful and timely.
Michalina (Michelle) Kupsik, M.D., (center, white coat), and Sherry Johnson, D.O., (right) found the Open House to be helpful and timely.

“Now we know!” Johnson said.

TRI Implementation Science Visiting Lecturer

Anne Sales, Ph.D., R.N., from the University of Michigan, will present “Frameworks to Strategies: Designing Implementation Interventions” on Thursday, Sept. 27, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., Rahn Building, 8/240.

She will discuss current issues in implementation science, including types and uses of implementation research frameworks, strategies, and interventions. She will discuss how these can be used in conducting implementation research studies.

The lecture at UAMS will be available via interactive video network at the UAMS Northwest Campus, second floor conference room, H07, and Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, Room R3026-1.


View flyer.

September TRIbune

In this issue of The TRIbune, we highlight the work of Dr. Prasad Padala, M.D., whose TRI pilot award helped him acquire a $1.1 million VA grant. Padala is conducting an exciting study using magnetic stimulation of the brain (rTMS) to help delay the onset of dementia.

TRI Director Laura James, M.D., reminds researchers of the newest pilot opportunity for opioid addiction and pain management research. The call for applications was issued Monday (see announcement below).

We had a great turnout for our second Open House and have included the comments of a few attendees. We also highlight a study by Erika Petersen, M.D., of a spinal cord stimulation device to treat neuropathic pain. And as always, we include the publication citations of studies that have utilized TRI services or support.

Read The TRIbune.

Call for Pilot Awards to Address Opioid Addiction and Pain Management

Researchers are encouraged to apply for pilot study awards being offered for opioid addiction and pain management research. Funded by UAMS, one-year awards of $25,000 will be available for studies that can produce data to support applications for larger extramural awards. Letters of intent (LOI) are due Oct. 8, 2018, by noon. View the Letter of Intent cover page.

Multidisciplinary teams will be given priority.  Any UAMS faculty, including at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Research Institute, and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, are invited to apply. View the Request for Applications (RFA) LOI document.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact: Nia Indelicato, NLIndelicato@uams.edu, or 501-526-0363.

Key Dates:

  • RFA released: Sept 10
  • Letter of Intent due: Oct. 8, by noon
  • Full applications invited: Oct. 12
  • TRI/Biostatistics consultations: Oct. 15 – 26
  • Proof of IRB submission due: Oct. 29, by noon (include in application)
  • Application due: Oct. 29, by noon
  • Videos due: Nov. 5 
  • Awardees announcement: Dec. 10 
  • Start date: Jan. 1, 2019

UAMS Employees, It’s Time to Nominate Your Community Partners!

UAMS faculty and staff, here’s your chance to have UAMS recognize the work of your community partners! The Translational Research Institute (TRI) will host its sixth annual UAMS Community Partner Celebration on Nov. 16, 2018. This celebration recognizes the outstanding community partners that have helped make our various endeavors possible, whether it involves research, education and training, or services. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. 

Please click the corresponding link(s) below to nominate your community partner!

The categories are:

Click the corresponding link(s) above to nominate your community partner.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Submit outstanding community based organizations (CBOs), community advisory boards (CABs), students and institutional partners that have provided invaluable expertise, guidance, and/or support to you on various projects. Patient advisory boards and councils will also be accepted.
  • Nonprofit CBOs that work with “groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations to address the well-being of those communities” will be recognized at this event.
  • CABs consist of community representatives who advise institutional representatives on issues that affect the public.
  • Institutional partners are defined as non-community based organizations such as state agencies, foundations, and other private organizations.

Only individuals from UAMS, ACH/ACHRI, and the VA are eligible to submit organizations for recognition.

How this works:

  • Submit you nomination by the submission deadline via the REDCap link above. Please contact the TRI CE team with any questions or if you need technical assistance.
  • Award nominees will be reviewed by impartial 3rd party reviewers.
  • Award winner will be recognized and announced at the Community Partner Celebration on November 16, 2018.
  • Additionally, the CE team will contact all nominees to invite them to the celebration and solicit pictures for of their organization that will be featured at the celebration.
  • Individuals may submit multiple nominees and for multiple categories.

Submissions are due October 5, 2018.

For more information contact Rachel Hale at rbhale@uams.edu, 501-526-6628.

ARresearch.org Registry Hits 5,000 Volunteer Milestone

A registry that matches people’s health interests with research studies at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) now has more than 5,000 Arkansans signed up.

Nathaniel Noble of Little Rock joined the ARresearch.org registry and participated in a UAMS research study coordinated by Research Associate Dusio Giuseppina, Ph.D. (right).
Nathaniel Noble of Little Rock joined the ARresearch.org registry and participated in a UAMS research study coordinated by Research Associate Dusio Giuseppina, Ph.D. (right).

The milestone was reached just two years after the registry was created to help address the critical need for research study volunteers.

“Five thousand is significant because now we are reaching a critical mass of volunteers needed to help our researchers meet their study enrollment targets and produce high-quality findings,” said Laura James, M.D., director of the UAMS Translational Research Institute, which established the registry. “We appreciate the tremendous support of our fellow Arkansans. They tell us wherever we recruit that they love UAMS and enthusiastically support our research mission.”

The registry is at ARresearch.org, a UAMS website created by the Translational Research Institute with input from its Community Advisory Board and UAMS patient advisory groups. Registrants select from a list of 29 health interest areas (allergy, heart disease, skin disorders, etc.) so that researchers know who to contact when they have studies in those health areas. Registrants can select as many of the categories as they want.

Studies at UAMS range from clinical trials (investigational drugs and devices) to health-related surveys and tests of health interventions.

One researcher who has found the registry invaluable is John Arthur, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chief of nephrology in the UAMS College of Medicine. Arthur was able to find 31 participants for his research studying bacteria in the gut of chronic kidney disease patients.

Using the ARresearch.org registry, John Arthur, M.D., Ph.D., found 31 Arkansans to participate in his kidney disease study.
Using the ARresearch.org registry, John Arthur, M.D., Ph.D., found 31 Arkansans to participate in his kidney disease study.

“We really couldn’t have conducted this research without the ability to find fairly large numbers of healthy volunteers, and ARresearch has been fabulous for that,” said Arthur, also associate director of the Translational Research Institute. In addition to helping UAMS researchers, the registry is also popular with Arkansans.

Nathaniel Noble, of Little Rock, joined the ARresearch.org registry last year after hearing about it at a Rotary Club luncheon. He checked the “Healthy Volunteer” option on the form and soon received an email from UAMS asking if he would be interested in participating in Arthur’s kidney research study.

“It hit home because my dad was on dialysis the last years of his life,” Noble said. “I felt that I needed to do my part so maybe someone else’s dad won’t have to go through the same experience.”

Noble said his participation was a good experience. “They were very personable and walked me through the tests they were running. Mine was in three parts and they did whatever it took to work around my schedule.”

Anita Rose, of North Little Rock, helped put the registry over the 5,000 mark when she joined during the Back to School Bash at North Little Rock Academy on Aug. 11. She said the word “research” immediately got her attention when she saw the

Anita Rose, of North Little Rock, said her mother's breast cancer inspired her to join the ARresearch.org volunteer registry.
Anita Rose, of North Little Rock, said her mother’s breast cancer inspired her to join the ARresearch.org volunteer registry.

ARresearch.org booth.

“My mom had breast cancer and we need that researched more,” Rose said, adding that as an African-American, she wants to be sure her race is represented. “It needs to be done with people of color, Hispanics, and others because everybody is different.”

Jean McSweeney, Ph.D., R.N., who led development of ARresearch.org, noted that the registry’s diversity compares well to Arkansas census data. In fact, it has a higher percentage of African-Americans, Asians, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders than is reflected in Arkansas census data.

“We’ve worked hard to ensure that we are recruiting a diverse pool of registrants, and we are proud to have registrants from all 75 Arkansas counties,” said McSweeney, professor and associate dean for research in the College of Nursing. “I think our success can be attributed in part to the early involvement of diverse community representatives when we were developing ARresearch.”

Nationally, up to 48 percent of research studies fail to meet their enrollment goals and most require twice the amount of time to meet their recruitment goals than originally planned, according to a 2013 Tufts University study. As a result, increasing public participation in research has become a priority for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Translational Research Institute represents UAMS as part of a national consortium of Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program institutions supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) of the NIH.

UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; hospital; northwest Arkansas regional campus; statewide network of regional centers; and six institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and Translational Research Institute. It is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 2,834 students, 822 medical residents and six dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses throughout the state, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.