Access and Outcomes - Active Research
Exploring Allostasis, Cellular Aging, and Cancer Outcomes (Allegiant) Study
PI: Margaret Rosenzweig
Funding source: Genentech
Dates: 2020 - 2026
Description: In this mixed methods approach, Dr. Margaret Rosenzweig and her team quantify how social, cultural and physical factors (including race, racism, poverty, trauma and neighborhood deprivation) comprising allostatic load influences subsequent disease outcomes directly, or are moderated through patient physical, emotional and financial distress. This examination provides risk metrics and patient voice for the creation and testing of a personalized and proactive assessment and supportive intervention protocol. A previous project specifically focused on non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients. The project was recently renewed and expanded to include all patients in the region with cancers in which survival disparities are present.
Related Studies: The Influence of Life Stress on Advanced Lung Cancer Outcomes (L-SOALCO)
The Cancer Advocacy, Resources, and Equity (CARE) Navigation Partnership
PI: Margaret Rosenzweig
Funding source: Pitt Un-Challenge
Dates: 2026
Description: This study aims to use a variety of methods including a community social needs assessment survey and qualitative data collection methods to identify resources being used by cancer patients in ten neighborhoods in the east end of Pittsburgh and the eastern suburbs.
Related Studies: N/A
Ethically focused multimodal AI models for precision treatments of breast cancer
Co-I: Margaret Rosenzweig; PI: Shandong Wu
Funding source: NIH/Office of Data Science
Dates: 2025-2026
Description: The Advancing Health Research through Multimodal AI Initiative aims to develop data-driven multimodal AI approaches to more closely model, interpret, and predict complex biological, behavioral, and health systems and enhance our understanding of health.
Related Studies: N/A
Identifying Multi-Level Predictors and Outcomes of Oral Anticancer Medication Adherence Initiation and Persistence among Patients with Hematologic Malignancies
PI: Sarah Belcher
Funding source: NIH/NCI - 5R01CA292925
Dates: 2024-2029
Description: Many patients with blood cancers now take pills to control their cancer, but it can be difficult for patients to start these medications in a timely manner and to consistently take their pills as prescribed. The reasons for these difficulties, the patients who face the most barriers, and the effects that delays and inconsistent pill taking may have on patients’ health are not well known. Led by Dr. Sarah Belcher, this study will describe how long it takes patients to start their cancer pills and how they take them over time; identifies barriers they may face; and how patients’ health may be affected by their ability to start and continue taking their cancer pills.
Related Studies: Understanding Oral Anticancer Medication Adherence among Patients with Multiple Myeloma
Extension: A Mobile Sensing System to Monitor Symptoms During Chemotherapy
PI: Carissa Low
Funding source: NIH/NCI - 5R37CA242545-07
Dates: 2024-2026
Description: This extension, building on Dr. Carissa Low's ongoing study developing machine learning models to predict real-time symptoms during chemotherapy using mobile sensor data as input, will enable us to design and develop a web application that shares real-time symptom predictions with patients and uses them to trigger personalized symptom management instructions. The team will develop prediction models that can predict specific, clinically significant and actionable symptoms rather than overall symptom burden, and determine the best way to share machine learning-based predictions and recommendations in a way that fosters trust and that supports patient autonomy as well as patient-provider communication. This work represents continued refinement of both the clinical utility of our machine learning models as well as our integration of these models into supportive cancer care within an academic oncology clinic.
Related Studies: A Mobile Sensing System to Monitor Symptoms During Chemotherapy
Communication quality during family meetings in the intensive care unit: how does quality impact health outcomes?
Site Director: Douglas White; PI: L. Van Scoy (Penn State University)
Funding source: NIH/NINR - 5R01NR020886
Dates: 2023-2028
Description: The goals of this R01 are to conduct a mediation analysis that will: 1) examine SDOH’s impact on communication between family members and ICU clinicians; 2) identify mechanisms of action related to how communication quality affects distrust of healthcare professionals and therapeutic alliance; and 3) determine how these factors contribute to or mediate outcomes for family members of ICU patients.
Related Studies: N/A
Randomized Trial of a Scalable, Interactive Tool to Support Surrogate Decision-Makers of Elderly Critically Ill Patients
PI: Douglas White Co-I: Jennifer Seaman
Funding Source: NIH/NIA - 5R01AG066731
Dates: 2020-2026
Description: Led by Dr. Douglas White, this multi-site randomized control trial conducted an appropriately powered randomized clinical trial of the Family Support Tool (FST) intervention among the surrogates of critically ill older adults to determine the effects of the FST on patients’ clinical outcomes, surrogates’ psychological outcomes, measures of decision quality, and end-of-life healthcare utilization. In parallel with the RCT, this team also conducted a qualitative study to identify the contextual factors, barriers, and facilitators that may influence the efficacy of the FST.
Related Studies: N/A
Refining and Pilot Testing a Meaning-Centered and Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention to Improve the Emotional Well-Being of Family Caregivers of Children with Medical Complexity
PI: Justin Yu
Funding source: NIH/NICHD - 1K23HD115947
Dates: 2025-2028
Description: The overall objective of this application is to refine and pilot trial a psychological intervention aiming to improve CMC (Children with Medical Complexity) caregivers’ emotional well-being by enhancing their sense of meaning and coping abilities. Dr. Yu will first conduct preliminary testing of a psychological intervention combining components of meaning-centered psychotherapy (MCP) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) among CMC family caregivers. Using human-centered design methods, Dr. Yu will collaborate with CMC caregivers and clinicians to iteratively refine the MCP-CBT intervention prototype using feedback form preliminary testing. Dr. Yu will then conduct a feasibility and acceptability pilot randomized controlled trial of the refined MCP-CBT intervention with 60 CMC caregivers.
Related Studies: Developing a Behavioral Intervention to Improve Coping Among Family Caregivers of Children with Medical Complexity (CMC)