Thursday, April 25, 2024
4/25/2024
PROJECT SUMMARY I am an Assistant Research Scientist in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the New York University School of Global Public Health (NYU GPH). My career goal is to engage in research and practice that improves the mental health of marginalized populations globally. My academic training included applied mathematics (BS, ’05), health policy and management (MPH, ’08), community health sciences (PhD, ’14), and global mental health (postdoctoral fellowships, ’17 and ’20). I have also received training in mixed-methods and community-based participatory research. Although I have strong analytical skills in evaluating mental health interventions, I would now like to develop skills to support the implementation of mental health interventions that are integrated with the treatment of other health conditions—particularly: cancer. This pivot will require an additional set of knowledge and skills. Accordingly, my goal in this K01 award is to obtain tailored training and mentorship in four key areas critical in becoming an independent international research scientist with a focus on global cancer control and prevention. I have assembled an experienced, international, multidisciplinary team of mentors who are committed to my career development. The mentoring committee will be co-led by two distinguished scholars in implementation science and health services research: Dr. Donna Shelley (NYU GPH) and Dr. Minh Van Hoang (Hanoi University of Public Health [HUPH]). My co-mentors include two experts in global mental health research and practice—Dr. Lawrence H. Yang (NYU GPH) and Dr. Wietse A. Tol (University of Copenhagen)—and two experts in cancer control and prevention—Dr. Ophira Ginsburg (NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center) and Dr. Huong Tran (Hanoi Medical University, Viet Nam National Cancer Institute). The career development activities are designed to leverage the wide range of mentors and activities at NYU and to facilitate the knowledge exchange between NYU and HUPH throughout my alternating residences between the U.S. and Viet Nam. My research plan is to adapt and pilot an enhanced stress management intervention for breast cancer patients in Viet Nam. First, I will conduct qualitative research to assess the acceptability and appropriateness of implementing the Self-Help Plus (SH+) program, with an additional peer support component, to help breast cancer patients manage their distress. The findings from this step will help identify the potential modifications needed. Second, I will convene a working group to select and implement the adaptations, including the additional Peer support component (P). Finally, I will pilot the adapted, peer-facilitated SH+P intervention to evaluate its feasibility. Upon successful completion of the training and research activities, I will be prepared to develop an R01 proposal to test the implementation and effectiveness of the adapted intervention in reducing psychological distress among breast cancer patients in Viet Nam. Findings can ultimately inform the development of evidence- based, culturally-adapted psychosocial interventions for cancer patients in many low- and middle-income countries as well as for different racial/ethnic groups in the U.S.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
