Research Initiatives

Current Research Grants

The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health has been awarded a number of grants from local, state and national foundations and state and funding agencies.  Many of these grants focus on clinical or community-based research, though several are in the fields of training and medical education. Listed (alphabetically by title) are many of the current (and recent) grants awarded to departmental faculty in research, training and education.

Current/Recent Grants

The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health has been awarded a number of grants from local, state and national foundations and funding agencies.  Many of these grants focus on clinical or community-based research, though several are in the fields of training and medical education.  Listed below (alphabetically by title) are many of the current (and recent) grants awarded to departmental faculty in research, training and education.

Research: 

A Longitudinal Study of Health Care Utilization Among Pregnant and Postpartum Homeless Women and Their Infants (HRSA) – Robin Clark, PhD and Linda Weinreb, MD

Assessing the Collaborative Care Environment in Primary Care (University of Vermont/NIH) – Dan Mullin, PsyD, MPH

Care Coordination for Patients who are Opioid Dependent (MA Department of Public Health) – Dan Mullin, PsyD, MPH

Closing the Loop in Child Tuberculosis Contact Management: Predictors and Completion of Therapy Outcomes in Western Kenya (UMMS Global Health funding) – Daria Szkwarko, DO

Community Health Workers Using Patient Stories to Support Hypertension Management (NIMHD) – Lee Hargraves, PhDand Warren Ferguson, MD

Development of Dependence in Young Waterpipe Smokers (Florida International Univ) – Joe DiFranza, MD

Direct Engagement of Stakeholders in Translating CER into Clinical Guidelines (PCORI) – Roger Luckmann, MD, MPH

From the First Tooth (Dentaquest) – Hugh Silk, MD, MPH

Health Surveillance of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (CDC) – Alexandra Bonardi, OTR/L, MHA

High Deductible Health Plans in Massachusetts: Adoption of HDHPs and Patterns of Health Care Utilization and Spending (Massachusetts Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA)) – Wen-Chieh Lin, PhD

Homeless Families Healthcare Project (Oak Foundation) – Linda Weinreb, MD

Implementation Science – Advancing Evidence-based Practices for Prison Inmates (AHRQ and NIDA) – Warren Ferguson, MD

Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care for Co-Morbid Behavioral and Medical Problems (PCORI/Univ of VT) – Dan Mullin, PsyD, MPH

Kidsteps II: Promoting School Readiness Through Social-emotional Skill Building in Preschool (US Dept of Education) – Carole Upshur, EdD

Mindfulness-Centered Pregnancy Initiative at the Family Health Center Prenatal Care Program (UMMS Public Service Award) – Jennifer Moffitt

National Epidemiological Survey of Women in Primary Care Practices: Substance Use and Mental Health Service Needs and Barriers (NIAAA) –Carole Upshur, EdD and Linda Weinreb, MD

Opioid Overdoses Among High Risk MassHealth Members: An Exploratory Analysis (MassHealth funded) – Judy Savageau, MPH 

Parent Outreach in Preschool Programs (UMMS Healey Grant) – Melodie Wenz Gross, PhD and Carole Upshur, EdD

Possible Significance of Cholinergic Influence in ADHD (NIDA) – Joe DiFranza, MD

Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund: Worksite Wellness Data Management and Evaluation (MA Department of Public Health) – Wen Chieh Lin, PhD

Primary Prevention for Resettled Refugees from Burma (Worcester County Prevention Research Center) – Suzanne Cashman, ScD and Heather-Lyn Haley, PhD

Rapid Access to Perinatal Psychiatric Care in Depression Program (CDC) – Linda Weinreb, MD

Smiles for Life (Dentaquest) – Hugh Silk, MD, MPH

Systematic Review of Oral Health Interventions Aimed to Reduce Health Disparities in Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (AADMD and CDC ) – Alexandra Bonardi, PhD

The Impact of Physician Non-English Language Proficiency Level on Cancer Care (NCI) – Warren Ferguson, MD

Understanding and Addressing the Legal Needs of Refugees (UMMS – CTSA) – Heather Lyn Haley, PhD

Worcester, A Baby Box City: Interdisciplinary Lessons in Community Engagement (Remillard Community Service Award) – Tasmina Hydery, Pharm D, Sara Shields, MD and Cathy Violette

Worcester Healthy Babies Collaborative (March of Dimes) – Heather Lyn Halley, PhD

Education:

Dissemination and Implementation of Evidenced-based Treatments for Substance Abuse Disorders and HIV for Justice-involved Populations (NIDA – conference grant) – Warren Ferguson, MD

Training:

AHEC: Area Health Education Center (HRSA) – Linda Cragin, MS

Center for Evaluating Integration of Oral Health into Primary Care Training (Harvard Medical School / HRSA) – Hugh Silk, MD, MPH

Fostering Effective Integration (Massachusetts Blue Cross Foundation) – Alexander Blount, EdD

Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care for Comorbid Behavior and Medical Problems (Univ of VT/PCORI) – Dan Mullin, PsyD, MPH

Massachusetts AHEC Learning and Library Resources Service Program (NLM) – Elaine Martin, DA

Opioid Use Disorders (Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation) – Dan Mullin, PsyD, MPH

The Rural Health Scholars Program (UMMS - Public Service Endowment Grant) – Suzanne Cashman, ScD and Steve Martin, MD

UMass Center for Health Equity Intervention Research (CHEIR) – Research Training and Education Core (NIMHD) – Carole Upshur, EdD