The UAMS Translational Research Institute is funding four implementation research pilot study awards totaling $200,000.
The annual awards of up to $50,000 each are made to projects with the strongest likelihood of leading to improved health and health care. It is the first time TRI has offered pilot awards for focused on implementation science, which is the study of methods to promote integrating research findings and other evidence-based practices into routine practice to improve the quality and effectiveness of health services.
Awardees were selected by a committee with internal, external and community reviewers. The awardees are:
Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., MBA, assistant professor, internal medicine, College of Medicine; associate vice chancellor, Northwest Arkansas Campus; director, Office of Community Health and Research, co-director of the Center for Pacific Islander Health
Pilot project: Implementation of Family Model DSME in an Underserved Marshallese Population in a Clinical Setting
Benjamin Teeter, Ph.D., assistant professor, pharmacy practice, College of Pharmacy, Center for Implementation Research
Pilot project: Testing Implementation Strategies to Support Community Pharmacist-Initiated Prescription and Distribution of Naloxone to Reduce Overdose by Opioids
Jeremy Thomas, Pharm.D., associate professor, pharmacy practice, College of Pharmacy
Pilot project: Implementation of Clinical Pharmacy Services Delivered via Telehealth to Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers
Kristin Zorn, M.D., associate professor, gynecology and genetics, College of Medicine
Pilot project: An Implementation Strategy to Increase Appropriate Referrals for Genetic Counseling and Testing Among Patients at High Risk for Hereditary Cancer Syndromes