MedStar Health Research Institute Awards Funding to Six Investigators

Hyattsville, Md. (June 5, 2017) — MedStar Health Research Institute recently awarded six MedStar Health investigators funding for their medical research projects. These awards are through the New Investigator—Associate Giving Grant Fund and the MedStar Diabetes Research Grant.

“These grants support the interests of the both the investigator and MedStar Health as an academic health system,” said Neil Weissman, MD, president of MedStar Health Research Institute. “It highlights the commitment our researchers have for the advancing the health of our community and the engagement of our community in research.”     

MedStar Diabetes Research Grant

The goal of the MedStar Diabetes Research Grant is to support investigators in the field of diabetes research who are interested in developing pilot data that can lead to additional, externally funded studies. This funding opportunity for MedStar investigators interested in diabetes research was made possible by a generous donation to MedStar Health.

• Deliya Wesley, PhD, MPH
  “Innovative Approach to Improving Diabetes Self Management among Black Patients”

New Investigator—Associate Giving Grant Fund

Associate gifts designated for research during the 2017 MedStar Health Associate Giving Campaign, the Power to Heal, support the work of new investigators through the New Investigator—Associate Giving Grant Fund. These funds are intended to support scientific research by new MedStar Health investigators, to advance health for patients in the communities we serve, and to provide seed money that may lead to external grant funding.

The grants provide up to $25,000 in direct cost funding for one year and are intended to support scientific research by a new MedStar Health investigator (associates who are at the faculty/attending level and have joined MedStar in the last five years), to advance health for patients in the communities we serve, and to provide seed money that may lead to external grant funding.

• Jessica Galarraga, MD, MPH
  “An Evaluation of a Payment Reform Experiment: The Effects of Global Budgets on Emergency Department Admissions and Associated Health Care Costs”
• Aviram Giladi, MD, MS
  “The Effect of Opiate Prescribing on Patient-Reported Outcomes and Satisfaction after Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery”
• Chukwuemeka Ihemelandu, MD
  “Establishment of Patient-Derived Tumor Xenograft Models of Peritoneal Metastasis for Preclinical Evaluation of New Imaging Targets: A Translational Platform for Improving Detection of Microscopic Disease to Impact Survival of Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancers”
• Suhasini Kaushal, MD
  “Antiepileptic Drugs in Neonatal Period, Oxidative Stress and Neurodevelopment Outcomes”
• Lee Ann Richter, MD
  “Assessing Provider Prescribing Pattern of Topical Estrogen to Treat Vulvo-Vaginal Atrophy in Patients with History of Breast Cancer”

Thank you to all associates who contributed. Contributions for the fund are accepted throughout the year. Please consider making a gift online to support our new investigators. Select “New Investigator Pilot Research Fund” from the drop down menu to direct your gift to this fund.

About MedStar Health Research Institute

The MedStar Health Research Institute is the research arm of MedStar Health, the largest healthcare provider in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region. MHRI provides scientific, administrative and regulatory support for research programs throughout the MedStar Health system. MHRI’s expertise includes translational research into disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. These programs complement the key clinical services and teaching programs in the 10 MedStar hospitals and other MedStar entities. For more information, visit www.MedStarResearch.org. 

About MedStar Health

MedStar Health is a not-for-profit health system dedicated to caring for people in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, while advancing the practice of medicine through education, innovation and research. MedStar’s 30,000 associates, 6,000 affiliated physicians, 10 hospitals, ambulatory care and urgent care centers, and the MedStar Health Research Institute are recognized regionally and nationally for excellence in medical care. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar trains more than 1,100 medical residents annually. MedStar Health’s patient-first philosophy combines care, compassion and clinical excellence with an emphasis on customer service. For more information, visit MedStarHealth.org.