Dr. Alicia Matthews appointed as Helen K. Grace Faculty Diversity Scholar

BIRCWH mentor Alicia Matthews, PhD, has been appointed as the inaugural Helen K. Grace Faculty Diversity Scholar for her internationally recognized work on physical and mental health disparities among members of marginalized social, groups. This award was presented by the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing. 

Dr. Matthews’ research focuses on examining the factors associated with physical and mental health disparities among members of marginalized social groups, including racial and ethnic minorities and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations, and developing tailored smoking cessation interventions for these groups. She has conducted research in the areas of cancer survivorship, cancer prevention, health care utilization, mental illness stigma, and depression. The National Cancer Institute, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and the Boeing Foundation have funded her research. Congratulations, Dr. Matthews! 

Dr. Thasarat Vajaranant receives the American Galucoma Society Thom J. Zimmerman, MD, PhD, Memorial Award

Congratulations to BIRCWH scholar Thasarat Vajaranant, who was named the first recipient of the “American Glaucoma Society – Thom J. Zimmerman, MD, PhD Memorial Award, Supported by Valeant Ophthalmics.” The award is in memory of Dr. Thom J. Zimmerman, Emeritus Professor and Chair of the Department of Opjtjalmology and Visual Sciences and Emeritus Professor of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Louisville, and the developer of the glaucoma medication timolol maleate (TIMOPTIC). The award consists of an unrestricted grant to support Thasarat’s clinical research study, “A Feasibility Study to Assess the Accuracy of Self-Reported Glaucoma Outcomes and Participant Interest in Ancillary Glaucoma Studies as Part of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Extension.”  The WHI is a large-scale national study cohort, providing a unique opportunity to build a large multiracial and multiethnic database regarding the genotype-phenotype influence on primary open-angle glaucoma. More information about the award is available online.  

Female Mortality Rates on the Rise in the US

A recent article examining mortality rates among females and males determined that female mortality rates have increased at exponentially higher rates in comparison to male mortality rates. The article, "Even As Mortality Fell In Most US Countries, Female Mortality Nonetheless Rose In 42.8 Percent Of Countries from 1992 To 2006," urges a focus on social and environmental determinants of health in understanding population health. The article is available for download on the UIC BIRCWH website.

Dr. Stacie Geller is named the 2012 Distinguished Research of the Year in Clinical Sciences!

Congratulations to Dr. Stacie Geller who was named the 2012 Distinguished Researcher of the Year in Clinical Sciences by the University of Illinois at Chicago. A complete description of this high honor and Dr. Geller's achievements is available at the UIC News Center.
    

Congratulations, Sadia!

Congratulations to BIRCWH scholar Sadia Haider, who gave birth to baby girl Zahra on January 8, 2013 at 6:59 am! Both mom and baby are doing well.

Two BIRCWH Scholars Receive OVCR Funding!

Two of our BIRCWH scholars recently received a Campus Research Board (CRB) grant from the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Research (OVCR) at the University of Illinois at Chicago to fund novel women's health research initiatives:

Dr. Kirstie Danielson received a grant for her proposal titled, "Role of the Bone Hormone Osteocalcin in Type 1 Diabetes and Islet Transplantation," which aims to determine whether a biomarker called blood osteocalcin is related to lower blood glucose levels. The biomarker osteocalcin is thought to predict better response to insulin therapy and beta-cell transplant, key treatments in the management of type 1 diabetes, particularly among women. Results from Dr. Danielson's work will have a clear impact on type 1 diabetes management for the many women affected by the disease.

Dr. Leah Rubin received a CRB grant from OVCR for her proposal titled, "A pilot study: Sex differences in cognitive response to a hydrocortisone challenge in HIV." Dr. Rubin's grant will build upon her previous work in this field, which seeks to determine the role of cortisol, a stress hormone, on cognition, particularly among HIV positive women. Dr. Rubin's novel work proposes that stress can negatively impact cognition in HIV positive women. Research has demonstrated that even among healthy men and women there is a notable difference in stress response, and healthy women have been shown to be more vulnerable than healthy men to the cognitive effects of cortisol. By expanding upon this prior work, Dr. Rubin will advance both basic science research and practice guidelines for HIV positive women.

Congratulations, Dr. Danielson and Dr. Rubin, for your continued success as women's health scholars and researchers!

Dr. Thasarat Vajaranant receives funding through The WHI Extension Feasibility Study

BIRCWH Scholar Dr. Thasarat Vajaranant received funding through The WHI Extension Feasibility Study Funding Program for her proposal titled “A Feasibility Study to Assess the Accuracy of Self-reported Glaucoma outcomes and Participant Interest in Participating in Ancillary Glaucoma Studies.” This study aims to test the feasibility of obtaining medical records to assess the accuracy of self-reported glaucoma outcomes and participant interest in participating in additional glaucoma studies. 

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), a prevalent, chronic, blinding condition, negatively impacts general health and daily life functions among vulnerable, elderly women. Globally, women comprise the majority of individuals with glaucoma and blindness. Recent evidence suggests that specific genes, influenced by environmental exposure, contribute to POAG. POAG is more prevalent among African Americans (5.6%) and Hispanics (4.7%) compared with Whites (1.7%), but there is limited information on the gene-environment interactions among minorities. In this study, Dr. Vajaranant will test the feasibility of obtaining medical records to assess the accuracy of self-reported glaucoma outcomes and participant interest in participating in ancillary glaucoma studies. If successful, this research model could serve as a cost-effective way to examine the role of the gene-environment on POAG in the future. Greater insight into the role of gene-environment on POAG holds great potential in improving eye health and preventing a common cause among blindness that affects elderly women of all races and ethnicities. 

Congrats, Dr. Vajaranant!