What's happening at the UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention?
Researchers recently received a $3.8 million NIH grant to study Med-South, an adapted Mediterranean diet, for weight loss.
Go NAPSACC, which reached a milestone in January with 20 states participating, has received national recognition for its ability to impact early childhood obesity.
The CDC awarded HPDP a $3.75 million grant, continuing its standing as a Prevention Research Center and funding research to expand the Med-South Lifestyle Program.
The CDC's website on Prevention Research Centers featured research findings from HPDP's Comprehensive Cancer Control Collaborative of North Carolina about an intervention that improved colon cancer screening rates among participating patients.
The ACCURE study published research findings about a system-based intervention which eliminated the treatment gap between black and white lung cancer patients enrolled in the study.
Several HPDP researchers, graduate students, and staff have received recent awards.
HPDP to offer data consultation services in partnership with Howard W. Odum Institute
We are pleased to announce that beginning July 1, HPDP is partnering with the Howard W. Odum Institute to offer consultation services in these areas: quantitative and statistical methods, mixed methods, survey research, and data management and preservation. If you need statistical support services, please contact Beverly Garcia or Alice Ammerman for more information. We would expect that you make every effort to build support for ongoing statistical collaboration into your research proposal budgets.
Researchers awarded $3.8 million grant to study innovative weight loss program for primary care patients
Thomas Keyserling, MD, MPH, from the department of medicine, and Carmen Samuel-Hodge, PhD, RD, from the department of nutrition, have received a five-year NHLBI grant. Their randomized, controlled trial will test the effectiveness of a behavioral weight loss program promoting an adapted form of the Mediterranean diet. Read more.
NAPSACC program receives national recognition as “best evidence for impact” on childhood obesity
Recently, a brief by Healthy Eating Research, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, recognized Go NAPSACC as having the “best evidence for impact on obesity prevention in young children.” Go NAPSACC offers easy-to-use online tools that help child care providers build healthy eating and physical activity habits with young children. In January, a milestone was reached with 20 states enrolled, and the program is now in 22 states. To date, at least 2,000 child care programs serving over 100,000 children have used Go NAPSACC. Read more.
CDC awards HPDP $3.75 million to study chronic disease prevention
Thanks to continued funding from the CDC, HPDP will maintain its standing as a CDC Prevention Research Center, one of only two in the country to have been continuously funded since 1986. Over the next five years, the funding will also cover research into how to scale up the Med-South Lifestyle Program, an evidence-based diet and physical activity intervention. Read more.
CDC highlights 4CNC intervention improving colon cancer screening rates
Research findings from HPDP's Comprehensive Cancer Control Collaborative of North Carolina (4CNC) are now featured in a summary on the CDC's Prevention Research Centers website. A two-step decision making approach increased colon cancer screening rates to 68%, compared to 27% among those who didn't participate. Read more.
HPDP researchers share their work at the Minority Health Conference
Februrary 22 marked the 40th annual Minority Health Conference. Alexandra Lightfoot, our director of community engagement, partnerships, and technical assistance, presented the poster "Using CBPR Charrettes to help Project IFE Build a Strong Community-Academic Research Partnership." Alice Ammerman, HPDP director, spoke on a panel titled, "Hungry for Change: Dismantling Food Injustice through Advocacy, Education and Sustainable Farming."
N.C. Child Hunger Leaders Conference connects nutrition, health, and education
The annual Child Hunger Leaders Conference on February 13 brought together nearly 350 advocates from across the state. The conference, sponsored by No Kid Hungry North Carolina, featured keynote speaker Mandy Cohen, the secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Read more.
ACCURE study solves racial disparities in treatment for early-stage lung cancer patients
White patients with early-stage lung cancer are more likely to complete treatment than black patients with the same disease. Co-principal investigators Samuel Cykert, MD (UNC School of Medicine and Gillings School of Global Public Health) and Geni Eng, DrPH (Gillings) recently published the results showing that a three-part intervention can close this racial disparity gap. Read more.
HPDP donates to hurricane relief efforts in eastern North Carolina
Recovery efforts continue long after the natural disaster leaves. In January, following Hurricanes Florence and Michael, HPDP made a donation to the Robeson County Disaster Recovery Committee (RCDRC) using a fund that was created with staff contributions. Read more.
Carmen Samuel-Hodge recognized as a UNC Gillings "Public Health Champion"
In February, the Gillings School of Global Public Health recognized public health champions who are also people of color. Multiple students nominated Carmen Samuel-Hodge, PhD, co-principal investigator of HPDP's applied research project and our core evaluation director, as a champion. Samuel-Hodge was recognized for how "her diabetes and obesity research in rural communities has revolutionized rural health education and interventions in North Carolina and beyond."
Jessica Soldavini receives 2019 World Hunger Leadership Award
Jessica Soldavini was the 2019 recipient of an award from Rise Against Hunger recognizing "outstanding leadership by undergraduate and graduate students in the movement to end hunger." Soldavini is a doctoral student in nutrition at the Gillings School of Global Public Health and a research assistant at HPDP where she primarily works with No Kid Hungry North Carolina. Read more.
Alex Lightfoot honored with a Teaching Innovation Award by UNC Gillings
Alexandra Lightfoot, EdD, director of HPDP's Community Engagement, Partnerships and Technical Assistance Core and assistant professor of health behavior at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, was one of nine Gillings faculty chosen by students to receive a 2019 Teaching Innovation Award. The award recognizes faculty who improve the learning environment by "integrating new technologies, engaging students in interactive activities, employing creative assessment methods, and introducing and incorporating progressive curriculum ideas into the classroom.” Read more.
Leah Chapman recipient of 2019 Impact Award at UNC
Leah Chapman, doctoral student in nutrition at the Gillings School of Global Public Health and research assistant with the FFORC Team at HPDP, received one of the UNC Graduate School's 2019 Impact Awards. Impact awards recognize graduate students for "powerful discoveries that contribute to a better future for people and communities in North Carolina." Chapman received the award for her study on behavioral economics in grocery stores. Read more.
Maihan Vu and Tamara Baker receive state service awards
North Carolina recently recognized Maihan Vu, DrPH, HPDP's Director of Formative Research, and Tamara Baker, the Director of Communications for No Kid Hungry, with the state's Excellence in Service awards. Both were recognized for a milestone in their length of service, Vu for 15 years and Baker for five.
UNC honors Beverly Garcia with Three Legged Stool Award
Beverly Garcia, HPDP's Managing Director of Research, received UNC's 2019 Three Legged Stool Award. The award honors an individual who builds community on campus, whether through teamwork, the promotion of partnerships, mentorship, or new approaches to current processes. Garcia was nominated by HPDP Director Alice Ammerman for her work "fostering, promoting, and maintaining collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and community partners from all levels of the university and all walks of life."
Older Americans Act Title III-D Evidence-Based Program Review Process
Principal Investigator: Ellen Schneider, MBA
Funder: National Council on Aging
Ellen Schneider, MBA, is now overseeing the Evidence-Based Program Review Process for the Older Americans Act Title III-D. The process reviews new community-based programs for potential inclusion on the list of approved programs funded through the Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III-D, to ensure that they meet the criteria established by the U.S. Administration for Community Living/Administration on Aging (ACL/AoA).
SNAP-Ed Toolkit Intervention Review Process and Website Update
Principal Investigator: Molly De Marco, PhD
Funder: USDA
The Food, Fitness and Opportunity Research Collaborative at HPDP, led by Molly De Marco, PhD, is now overseeing the intervention review process for the SNAP-Ed Intervention Toolkit and has redesigned the toolkit's website. The Interventions component of the toolkit helps state SNAP-Ed administrative and implementing agencies identify and implement evidence-based obesity prevention and policy, systems, and environmental change (PSE) interventions to include in SNAP-Ed Plans.
Data Analyst, Children's Healthy Weight Research Group
Erik joined the Children's Healthy Weight Research Group from a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Cancer Institute. He earned his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Kansas and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Yale University. Currently, he serves as a data analyst on several ongoing projects and is responsible for managing and analyzing the environmental, behavioral, and heath outcome data related to nutrition, physical activity, and obesity. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, watching sports, cooking, and exploring North Carolina, his new home, with his wife and dog.
Sommer Barnes, MPH
Research Assistant, SPROUTS Project
Sommer joined HPDP as a research assistant on the SPROUTS study, which explores eating behaviors among parent-child dyads. Sommer completed her MPH in Maternal and Child Health at Boston University in 2013. Before joining HPDP, she worked at UNC as a counselor in the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases and as research services staff at the Carolina Population Center. Originally from Boone, North Carolina, Sommer has worked as a birth doula in both Boston and San Francisco hospitals.
Sara Margaret Christy
Research Assistant, SPROUTS Study
Sarah Margaret was also hired as a research assistant on the SPROUTS study. She works on recruitment and enrollment for the study and conducts study visits with mothers and children. She is excited to be in a role that allows her to engage directly with children and families while also expanding her research experience and exposure to the world of public health. Her previous job was in outdoor education, and in her free time she enjoys outdoor activities and exploring new trails and parks in the area.
Joey Peele
Training and Outreach Coordinator, Go NAPSACC
Joey is a Training & Outreach Coordinator with Go NAPSACC. His primary role is to provide assistance and support to state partners as they work to disseminate and implement Go NAPSACC. He is currently working with Indiana, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and South Carolina. He is also a producer in his down time who loves making beats and instrumentals, exploring videography, and traveling internationally.
Aviva Starr, MSW
Training and Outreach Coordinator, Go NAPSACC
As a Training & Outreach Coordinator, Aviva supports states as they implement Go NAPSACC, an online platform to support improvements to child care environments that foster healthy eating, physical activity, and overall development in children. Additionally, she supports the North Carolina Partnership for Children and its unique implementation of Go NAPSACC. In her free time, Aviva has hiked almost every trail at the Eno River State Park.
