OPT for Health Lab

POWER: Prevention Outreach Wellness Engagement Resilience

This is an NCI-funded community-engaged research project to address social drivers of cancer disparities among residents of income-based housing in Virginia and is part of the larger VA-ACCERT Center, which is co-directed by Dr. LaRose. We will partner with residents of 12 income-based housing communities to develop and test a multilevel intervention addressing four social drivers of health: food insecurity, health literacy, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context. By addressing these factors at the individual, community, and organizational level, we aim to achieve sustainable improvements in two key cancer risk factors: nutrition quality and physical activity. For more information, visit www.accertpowerproject.org.

PIs: Dr. Jessica LaRose (Academic) and Janet Plent, RN (Community)

Collaborating Investigators include: Dr. Autumn Lanoye, Dr. Maghboeba Mosavel, Dr. Chrisa Arcan

Redefining BMI: The Body, Mind, Inflammation (BMI) Project

This is a randomized clinical trial to test the preliminary efficacy of an integrated lifestyle intervention targeting proinflammatory behaviors and psychological function on adiposity and biomarkers of inflammation and cardiometabolic disease among emerging adult women, compared to a developmentally adapted behavioral obesity treatment program.

PI: Dr. Jessica LaRose

Collaborating investigators include: Dr. Autumn Lanoye, Dr. Anika Hines, Dr. Trey Wickham, Dr. Robert Perera

We are currently recruiting for this project! Visit our website to learn more: www.RedefiningBMI.com 

AYA WELL

In this multi-site NCI-funded trial we are collaborating with an advisory board to develop and test a theory-based mHealth lifestyle intervention, specifically designed to meet the needs of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (AYAs). We are actively recruiting participants! For more information visit join-ayawell.org.

PIs: Dr. Jessica LaRose and Dr. Carmina Valle

Collaborating investigators include: Dr. Autumn Lanoye, Dr. Arnethea Sutton, Dr. Andrew Smitherman, Dr. Deborah Tate, Dr. Erik Willis, Dr. Derek Hales

Wellness Engagement Petersburg

This study is grounded in a decade of community-based participatory research in partnership with residents and community partners in Petersburg, VA. As part of this NIDDK-funded trial, we are testing a grassroots, multilevel lifestyle intervention to reduce adiposity and promote cardiometabolic health for Petersburg residents. For more information, visit www.WEProjectPetersburg.com.

PIs: Dr. Jessica LaRose and Dr. Maghboeba Mosavel

Collaborators include: : Pathways, Inc. Dr. Robert Perera