Active Sponsored Awards

Jessie Bricker, OTD, OTR/L

Project Title: WUOT School-Based Scholars Program
Principal Investigator: Jessie Bricker, OTD, OTR/L
Funding Source: US Department of Education - Special Education - Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities, H325R230056
Project Period: 10/1/23-9/30/28
Project Goals: The grant will fund the School-Based Scholars Program, designed to improve the recruitment and retention of diverse occupational therapy students while increasing competencies to serve children with high-intensity needs in school-based settings. The program will provide tuition remission to up to five scholars per year, who will take specific courses supporting career development and academic performance while they work with community partner schools serving marginalized K-12 students. Scholars who receive funding agree to work in special education or related services for two years for each year of support they receive. Data will be collected on scholars to measure program success and report outcomes until their service obligations are fulfilled or they are referred for repayment of funding received.

Lisa Tabor Connor, PhD, MSOT, OTR/L

Project Title: Schultz Lifestyle Profile Series

Principal Investigator: Lisa Tabor Connor, PhD, MSOT, OTR/L
Funding Source: Schultz Family Support Fund
Project Period: 5/09-present

Project Title:Functional Cognition Assessment: Psychometric Properties”

Principal Investigator(s):Lisa Connor

Funding Source: American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) Planning Grant Collective (PGC)

Project Period: 03/01/26-02/28/28

Project Goals: The project objective is to establish a comprehensive dataset related to adult performance-based functional cognition (FC) assessments that will determine their psychometric properties, permit empirical development of the construct of FC, and serve as a shared resource to inform future research and policy discussions. To do this, we will conduct a multi-site study to collect data on several of the most widely used and evidence-based adult performance-based FC assessments.

Erin Foster, PhD, OTD, OTR/L

Project Title: Prospective memory impairment in Parkinson disease-related cognitive decline: Intervention and mechanisms
Principal Investigator: Erin Foster, PhD, OTD, OTR/L
Funding Source: NIH/NIA R01AG065214
Project Period: 09/15/2020-05/31/2026
Project Goals: The long term goal of this research is to reduce disability, improve quality of life, and delay dementia onset among people with Parkinson disease (PD) by enabling them to cope with cognitive decline to maintain daily function. The primary objective of the current project is to determine the efficacy of a mechanistically-targeted strategy training intervention on prospective memory among people with PD-related mild cognitive impairment (PDMCI). It is a single-blind randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of strategy training to the traditional process training approach on objective laboratory prospective memory performance (Aim 1) and reported everyday prospective memory function (Aim 2). Additional objectives of the current project are to investigate neural mechanisms of prospective memory impairment in PD (Aim 3) and neural and behavioral predictors of prospective memory training response (Aim 4). This project leverages participants, data and infrastructure from an existing longitudinal cohort of PD and control participants to evaluate short-term and long-term training effects, neurobiological mechanisms, and predictors of treatment response.

Project Title: The Black and African American Connections to Parkinson's Disease (BLACAC-PD)
Principal Investigators: Erin Foster, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, and Scott A. Norris, MD
Funding Source: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
Project Period: 1/1/24-12/31/26
Project Goals: To increase representation of Black and African American genetic data in the GP2 data repository, where researchers can utilize this data to discover greater understanding of PD.

Project Title: The Black and African American Connections to Parkinson’s Disease (BLAAC PD) Recruitment Demonstration Project “Developing Community-Engaged Recruitment Strategies to Enhance Diversity and Representation in Parkinson's Disease Research”
Principal Investigator: Erin Foster, PhD, OTD, OTR/L
OT Co-Investigator: Kelly Harris, PhD, CCC-SLP
Funding Source: The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Initiative, Global Parkinson's Genetics Program (GP2)
Project Period: 01/01/2025-12/31/2026
Project Goals: The Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) is an international effort aimed at generating significant insight into the genetic basis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and democratizing access to results and data. The BLAAC PD project focuses on recruiting people who identify as Black or African American. This project will develop, implement and report on strategies to a) learn from local stakeholders on opportunities and challenges to clinical research participation among Black or African American people with PD; b) build and leverage relationships with varied stakeholders to increase engagement in PD-related research among Black and African American people in the region; c) raise awareness of PD in the community through varied media channels.

Kelly Harris, PhD, CCC-SLP

Project Title: “Developing An Equity-Focused Asthma Home Environmental Assessment Program: Building a Community-Engaged Partnership” as part of the Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences Project (Powderly, PI)
Principal Investigator: Kelly Harris, PhD, CCC-SLP
OT Co-Investigator: Lindsay Spell, OTD, OTR/L
Funding Source: WU Center for Community Health Partnership & Research’s (CCHPR) ‘Partnership Development & Sustainability Support (PDSS) Funding Program’ supported by the WU Institute of Public Health (IPH) and the WU Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) through the NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) UL1TR002345 award.
Project Period: 03/01/2025-02/28/2026
Project Goals: This project will establish a Community-Based Collaborative team with local community organizations and families of youth with asthma, and (2) identify determinants of asthma management within our local community, including health concerns and outcomes prioritized by community shareholders.

Catherine Hoyt, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Project Title: Early Identification Of Developmental Delay Among Infants And Toddlers With Sickle Cell Disease
Principal Investigator: Catherine Hoyt, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Funding Source: NIH/NHLBI K23HL161328
Project Period: 7/1/23-6/30/28
Project Goals: The goal of the proposed study is to determine the incidence and severity of developmental deficit at 9, 18 and 30 months of with sickle cell disease and test a 12-month, home-based caregiver intervention with this disproportionately affected population. Aim 1. Determine incidence and severity of developmental delay in children with SCD compared to peers (n=100). Aim 2. Evaluate effects of monthly caregiver driven intervention over 1 year for children with SCD (n=25). Aim 3. Identify contextual determinants (i.e., facilitators and barriers) related to implementing a home-based caregiver intervention.

Project Title: Implementation of Science for Pediatric CIMT
Principal Investigator: Sharon L. Ramey, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
OT Investigator: Catherine Hoyt, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Funding Source: NIH
Project Period: 8/1/23-4/30/26
Project Goals: Given the established efficacy of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) and the urgency to implement this effective intervention for all eligible children, the proposed study will 1) systematically analyze the extent to which CIMT is being provided around the United States, and 2) describe what adaptations to standard protocols are necessary to increase uptake of CIMT as standard care for children with HCP. The long-term goal of this research is to increase the availability of CIMT for children with HCP. The purpose of this study is to use a rigorous implementation science methodology to understand the current landscape of CIMT and perceived determinants of implementation.

Project Title: Community Driven Methods for Screening for Developmental Delay Among Infants and Toddlers with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)
Principal Investigator: Catherine Hoyt, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Funding Source: The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) Intervention Research Grant (IRG)
Project Period: 07/01/25-06/30/27
Project Goals: This project extends my ongoing research investigating strategies to improve developmental outcomes for children with SCD by i) Evaluating the feasibility, acceptability, and sustainability of using a shorter measure in standard clinic appointments and ii) Comparing the detection rate of developmental delay between our current assessment battery and a novel tool, and using the data from these two objectives pilot data for a larger grant to support multi-site implementation testing.

Jessica Kersey, PhD, OTR/L

Project Title: Interdisciplinary Development of a Social Support Intervention to Improve Health after Brain Injury
Principal Investigator(s): Jessica Kersey, PhD, OTR/L; Brian Carpenter, PhD; and Aimee James, PhD, MPH, MA
Funding Source: WashU, Here and Next, Ignite Interdisciplinary Project Grant
Project Period: 07/01/25-06/30/26
Project Goals: This study will develop and refine a novel intervention to improve health and participation among people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) by strengthening social support relationships.

Project Title: “From Isolation to Connection: A Dyadic Approach to Enhancing Health after TBI”
Principal Investigator(s): Jessica Kersey, PhD, OTR/L
Funding Source: US NIH/NCATS KL2TR002346
Project Period: 01/01/26-12/31/28
Project Goals: The KL2 project will examine the feasibility of a novel dyadic intervention aimed at enhancing social support to promote greater participation and long-term health outcomes among people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) by improving the quality of a support relationship between the person with TBI and a close family member or friend. The goals of this intervention are to provide the dyad with strategies to sustain an effective support relationship. For this project, we will conduct the preparation phase of the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) framework, which involves testing the feasibility of the proposed intervention elements to inform the design of a factorial, randomized optimization trial (MOST Phase 2).

Hanna Launius, OTD/S ’26

Project Title: PromOTing Healthy Living Workshops
Principal Investigator(s): Mia Pearce, OTD/S ’25, and Hanna Launius, OTD/S ’26
Co-Investigator(s): Noemi Rojas Serrano, OTD/S ’26
Funding Source: Transform Grant from the WU Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement’s St. Louis Impact Fund
Project Period: 1/19/24 to 1/18/27
Project Goals: Through monthly student-led workshops at Northside Youth and Senior Service Center (NSYSSC), the program aims to promote occupational engagement among the community-dwelling older adult population of North St. Louis while also challenging students to practice clinical skills and be advocates for the profession.

Kerri Morgan, PhD, OTR/L, ATP

Project Title: Wheelchair User Physical Activity Training Intervention to Enhance Cardiometabolic Health (WATCH): A Community-Based Randomized Control Trial
Principal Investigator: Kerri Morgan, PhD, OTR/L, ATP
Funding Source: NIH/NICHD R01HD111022
Project Period: 2/1/23-1/31/28
Project Goals: Low levels of physical activity (PA) are common in Wheelchair users (WU) due to physical disability. WU are also at greater risk for obesity and cardiometabolic health-related diseases compared to the general population. This study proposes a hybrid I randomized controlled trial to test the cardiometabolic effects of a tailored intensity-controlled physical activity training (IPAT) intervention compared to education and access to a community-based accessible gym (EA). Aim #1: To compare the effectiveness of the IPAT to EA on cardiorespiratory fitness, vascular function, and body composition. Aim #2: To identify barriers and facilitators to WU engaging in PA at a community-based, accessible gym. Aim #3: To examine the mediators (e.g., self-efficacy) and moderators (e.g. age, race, duration of disability) of the expected intervention effect to understand differences in physiologic response.

Dr. Morgan would like to acknowledge her research team who have supported and are a part of this grant: Kim Walker, OTD, OTR/L, ATP; Sue Tucker, OTD, OTR/L, ATP; Carla Walker, OTD, OTR/L, ATP; Rachel Heeb Desai, OTD; Yan Yan, MD, PhD; Todd Cade (Co-I), PT, PhD; Joe Klaesner, MS, PhD; and Graham Colditz, MD, DrPH.
Community Partner: Paraquad

Project Title: Reaching Persons with Spinal Cord Injury with Important Health Information Through a Text-Messaging Intervention: Adaptation and Pilot Study
Principal Investigator: Kerri Morgan, PhD, OTR/L, ATP
Funding Source: Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, Psychosocial Research (PSR) Grant
Project Period: 04/30/24-04/29/26
Project Goals: Our research team at Washington University in St. Louis and Shirley Ryan Ability Lab will adapt, further develop, and pilot test a 12-week self-management short message service (SMS) intervention using mobile phones to improve the psychosocial health of persons with spinal cord injury (PwSCI). The purpose of the project is to further develop (Aim 1) and adapt (Aim 2) an mHealth intervention for persons with a disability targeted at one specific secondary health condition (SHC), fatigue, previously developed by the research team.

Project Title: Turning the TiDe: Training Diverse Clinician Scientists in Rehabilitation Research
Principal Investigator(s): Elizabeth Skidmore, PhD, OTR/L, University of Pittsburgh; Gregory Hicks, PT, PhD, University of Delaware
WU Principal Investigator(s): Marcie Harris-Hayes, PT, DPT, MSCI, Professor of Physical Therapy and Orthopaedic Surgery
OT Investigator: Kerri Morgan, PhD, OTR/L, ATP
Funding Source: NIH/NICHD R25HD109110
Project Period: 9/1/22-8/31/27
Project Goals: Provide education, mentoring and supervised experiences to train faculty in the knowledge and skill they need to mentor diverse clinician scientists effectively. These faculty trainees will provide mentoring and "hands on" experiences in rehabilitation research for diverse student trainees from occupational and physical therapy graduate training programs.

Project Title: “Remote ischemic conditioning intervention to enhance the cardiometabolic health of persons with SCI”
Principal Investigator(s): Kerri Morgan, PhD, OTR/L, ATP
Funding Source: Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, Spinal Cord Injury Research on the Translational Spectrum (SCIRTS) Grant
Project Period: 07/31/25-07/30/27
Project Goals: The purpose of this project is to collect preliminary feasibility, acceptability, and outcome data to inform a larger clinical trial examining the effects of remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) on cardiometabolic health outcomes for persons with SCI.

Mia Pearce, OTD/S ’25

Duana Russell-Thomas, OTD, OTR/L

Project Title: Transforming Health Education with Community Trust

Principal Investigator: Duana Russell-Thomas, OTD, OTR/L
Funding Source: WashU Pitch Partners2 funding from the Center for Community Health Partnership & Research at Institute for Public Health (IPH) and the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) through the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the NIH and by support from the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital Grant Number CCHPR24.
Project Period: 12/01/24-05/31/26
Project Goals: Over the last five years, the WashU Center for Interprofessional Practice & Education (CIPE) and the St. Louis Community Health Worker Coalition (CHWCo) have collaborated to build and pilot a model of care that addresses the complex health needs of the underserved and uninsured in the STL community. Given the success of preliminary evaluation findings, this project is ready to pilot an expanded form of the work with our identified community partner, CareSTL Health. Our overall goal is to form a mutually beneficial relationship between CareSTL Health, the STL CHW Coalition & CIPE whereby interprofessional teams of students could help improve the health and wellness of current CareSTL Health patients and residents of associated facilities like Alumnus Gardens, while learning key tenants of community-centered care.

Lindsay Spell, OTD, OTR/L

Project Title: Asthma Home Occupation-based Modified Environmental (HOME) Assessment: Implementer Perspectives
Principal Investigator(s): Lindsay Spell, OTD, OTR/L
OT Mentor: Kelly Harris, PhD, CCC-SLP
Funding Source: American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) Nancy Talbot Postdoctoral Research Fellowship-Competitive Year02 Renewal
Project Period: 02/01/2025-03/31/2026
Project Goals: To better understand acceptability and feasibility of our previously developed ‘Asthma Home Environmental’ (Asthma HOME) intervention, we will (1) conduct user testing to assess the acceptability of Asthma HOME among OTs, and (2) establish and engage a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to refine Asthma HOME.

Susy Stark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Project Title: Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences -Hub Research Capacity Component- Integrating Special Populations (ISP) (Subproject)
Principal Investigator: William Powderly, MD (WU)
OT Investigator: Susy Stark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Sub Project Co-Lead
Funding Source: US NIH/NCATS UL1TR002345
Project Period: 3/01/22-2/28/27

Project Title: Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Clinical Translational Science Award Training Core
Principal Investigator: Jay Piccirillo, MD, FACS
OT Investigator: Susy Stark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, TL1 Associate Lead
Funding Source: US NIH/NCATS TL1TR002344
Project Period: 3/01/22-2/28/27

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