Awardees
UCI Health Affairs funds innovative research projects through a series of multidisciplinary awards supporting basic, translational, clinical and population health projects.
The UCI Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences (COHS) Pilot Studies award is designed to support pilot work from faculty in the COHS with a high potential to lead to improved human health and well-being at the clinical or public health level.
Please see below for more information about the award winners and abstracts for each project.
Implementation of an Intensive Post-Discharge GDMT Optimization Pilot in Heart Failure
Collaborating Units: School of Medicine and School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Read Abstract
Despite a substantial body of evidence demonstrating the benefits of guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) in patients with heart failure, GDMT use remains largely suboptimal. Timely and consistent follow-up care after heart failure hospitalization is needed to improve GDMT utilization to improve outcomes of mortality, hospitalization and functional capacity. This project will establish an intensive multidisciplinary post-discharge GDMT optimization program. The program will use remote monitoring to assist with assessment of clinical status, combined with a fast-paced weekly visit approach to achieve target or maximally tolerated GDMT early after hospital discharge.
Augmentation of Dynamin-1 Levels Using Catalpol to Prevent Cancer-related Cognitive Impairment (ADC Study)
Collaborating Units: School of Medicine and School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Read Abstract
Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is highly prevalent in up to 75% of cancer survivors. Catalpol is a compound found in the roots of a plant called Rehmannia glutinosa. It has been shown to improve cognitive function in animal models and simultaneously increase the expression of dynamin-1 in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. In the ADC study, we aim to determine the neuroprotective effects by enhancing neuronal dynamin-1 using catalpol in vivo to manage CRCI, with the aim to evaluate the therapeutic role of catalpol in mitigating CRCI following chemo- or radiation-therapy exposures.
Understanding Well-Being in Asian-American Prostate Cancer Survivors
Collaborating Units: Program in Public Health and School of Medicine
Read Abstract
Asian American communities comprise a sizable portion of our cancer treatment catchment area at UCI, yet little is known about their experiences, preferences, care needs and relationship impacts after prostate cancer. As UCI is emerging as a leader in behavioral oncology research with Asian American populations, this study will utilize qualitative methods and recruit Asian American prostate cancer survivors to gain in-depth understanding of changes in and influences on well-being, relationship dynamics and support, self-image and resilience factors, cancer-related physical changes, and supportive care needs. Findings have the potential to assist Asian American prostate cancer survivors in capitalizing on culturally-shaped resilience factors and mitigating risk factors to improve outcomes and to assist healthcare providers in providing culturally competent care.
Leveraging Mammography for Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment
Collaborating Units: Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, School of Medicine and Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute
Co-Investigator
Assistant Professor In-Residence, Radiological Sciences & Pathology, School of Medicine; Co-Director, Center for Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostic Medicine; Co-Director, Precision Health through Artificial Intelligence; Assistant Professor In-Residence, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences
Read Abstract
Mammograms, essential for breast cancer screening starting at age 40, have the potential to take on a novel and significant role in assessing heart health. Traditionally, certain findings on mammograms, such as breast arterial calcifications, were not considered relevant to breast cancer risk and thus were not utilized for diagnostic purposes. This study aims to develop an automated technique for detecting breast arterial calcifications and will utilize a dataset from a diverse group of American women (n=5,059) to investigate its prevalence across different ethnicities. By integrating assessments of breast arterial calcification and breast density into routine mammograms, it may be possible to detect potential heart issues early, offering valuable insights beyond conventional assessments, all without additional radiation exposure or costs.
Analgesic Response to Opioids in Patients with Fibromyalgia after Traditional Acupuncture Versus Sham Acupuncture
Collaborating Units: School of Medicine and Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute
Read Abstract
This project addresses the inadequacy of pain management therapies available to patients with fibromyalgia, particularly those who experience hyperalgesia and diminished response to traditional opioid therapy. This disparity disproportionately affects women, as they are more likely to develop fibromyalgia.
Single Cell/Nucleus Analyses of Paired FSHD Biopsy Samples
Collaborating Units: School of Biological Sciences, School of Medicine and School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Read Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most common muscular dystrophies with no cure, and its pathogenic process is still not completely understood. By combining high-throughput high-resolution spatial and single nucleus transcriptomics analyses, this project aims to establish a powerful strategy to determine disease-specific gene network alteration and contributions of other cell types in different muscles using needle biopsy samples with the goal of better stratifying the disease states of muscles and identifying a simplified minimum set of marker genes that may be cost-effectively used for monitoring disease progress and clinical trial effectiveness.
