Research

Carol Estwing Ferrans, PhD, RN, FAAN, Funded Projects

Dispelling Cultural Myths to Promote Early Detection of Breast Cancer in African American Women

Funding Source: National Institute on Aging
Dates: 9/1/08– 8/31/10
Co-Investigators: Usha Menon

Center of Excellence in Eliminating Disparities

Funding Source: National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities
Dates: 7/25/09– 5/31/14
Role on the project : co-Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator : Calhoun, Elizabeth
Co-Investigator: Cynthia Barnes-Boyd
Abstract: The overall aims of the UIC Center of Excellence in Eliminating Disparities (CEED) are to: Aim 1: Become a university-wide crucial resource for minority health and health disparities research; Aim 2: Enhance training of faculty and students engaged in minority health and health disparities research; Aim 3: Develop and conduct leading-edge research on health disparities; Aim 4: Disseminate effective strategies for improving minority health and health disparities in community settings; and Aim 5: Develop, maintain and sustain key university-community partnerships. We will accomplish these aims through four cores, two research projects, and one dissemination project. The function of the Administrative Core is to oversee activities to successfully achieve the CEED's aims and support the Research, Training, and Community Core aims. The Research Core will coordinate ongoing research and develop new minority health and health disparities research within the CEED and encourage participation from faculty across disciplines. The Research Training and Education Core will expand and coalesce the diverse training activities at UIC to provide conceptual and methodological information of specific relevance to the conduct of health disparities research to qualified students, faculty, and community partners. The Community Engagement and Outreach Core will facilitate university-community partnerships, with the ultimate goal of improved minority health and reduced health disparities in Chicago. The aims of the 2 research projects are: Study 1: To develop a model of disparities in mortality from prostate and colorectal cancer in the Chicago metropolitan area to conduct a population-based analysis of potential clinical, social, and healthcare-related mechanisms for the mortality disparities; Study 2:
To identify the barriers contributing to the racial/socioeconomic disparities in colorectal cancer treatment care continuum. The Community Core includes a specific dissemination project aimed at reducing breast cancer mortality. With very strong institutional commitment, stellar leadership, integrating the full complement of our 6 health sciences programs, we aim for a comprehensive strategy incorporating research, education, policy changes, and community partnerships to reduce health disparities in Chicago and Illinois.

Center for Clinical and Translational Science

Funding Source: National Center for Research Resources
Dates: 7/14/09– 6/30/14
Role on the project : Community Engagement Core Director
Director : Theodore Mazzone
Associate Core Director : Barbara Dancy
Abstract: To advance and transform clinical and translational research at the University of Illinois at Chicago by (1) creating an academic home for clinical and translational research at UIC; (2) establishing an infrastructure to provide critical research support services required by clinical and translational investigators; (3) educating and supporting a cadre of interdisciplinary investigators in clinical and translational research disciplines.

Health Promotion in Minority Childhood Cancer Survivors

Funding Source: National Cancer Institute
Dates: 6/12/06– 4/30/11
Role on the project : co-Investigator
Principal Investigator : Melinda Stolley
Abstract: The proposed project is a cross sectional observational study of African-American, Hispanic, and non- Hispanic White adult survivors of childhood cancers and non-cancer controls. The study will describe and compare important health behaviors (diet, physical activity, smoking) and specific health care, sociocultural, cognitive and environmental factors (health status, health care utilization, cultural beliefs/practices, spirituality, health knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and social support) hypothesized to influence the identified health behaviors. Using regression analyses we will formulate predictive models that explain the relationships between survivor status, ethnicity and health behaviors, and the sociocultural and cognitive factors that mediate these behaviors.