February 2015 Awards


William Kraemer

William Kraemer

Principal Investigator: WILLIAM KRAEMER, Department of Human Sciences

Co-Investigators: Carl Maresh and Jeff Volek, Department of Human Sciences

Project Dates: 02/01/2015 – 12/31/2015
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $153,329
Project Sponsor: H9 Water

Effects of H9 hydrogen rich structured water on cognitive and physical performance in humans

The purpose of this study is to assess whether consuming hydrogen-rich water before, during and after a heavy resistance training protocol can demonstrate antioxidant effects leading to a reduction in skeletal muscle damage and fatigue. We will also explore whether hydrogen rich water can reduce cognitive and physical performance decrements after acute repetitive springs and heavy resistance exercise.


Natasha Slesnick

Natasha Slesnick

Principal Investigator: NATASHA SLESNICK, Department of Human Sciences

Co-Investigators: Xin Feng, Department of Human Sciences

Project Dates: 02/01/2015 – 11/30/2019
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $629,505
Project Sponsor: National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services

Evaluation of EBT with young, substance abusing homeless mothers

Homeless mothers with young children in their care contend with high rates of substance use, HIV risk, physical and mental health problems and parenting stress. These struggles are in addition to homelessness and meeting the basic needs of themselves and their children. A comprehensive intervention that can be offered outside the shelter setting may offer greater reach to those experiencing homelessness who do not make it in to the shelter system, and for those communities that do not have shelters available. The proposed intervention (Ecologically-Based Treatment, EBT) includes housing and supportive services and utilizes an ecological systems approach as the theoretical base. It was rigorously developed in a Stage 1 treatment development study with substance use disordered homeless mothers who were engaged through a crisis shelter. EBT showed several outcomes superior to shelter services and is therefore considered a good fit for a population who avoids the shelter but is in great need of housing and support services. Since homeless substance use disordered mothers and their children are at increased risk for a variety of adverse outcomes, the intervention may produce substantial health-care benefits to their families and society at large.

Additional information about this project can be found on the NIH website.


Jane Wiechel

Jane Wiechel

Principal Investigator: JANE WIECHEL, Schoenbaum Family Center, Weinland Park Lab School

Project Dates: 02/01/2015 – 07/31/2019
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $2,860,083
Project Sponsor: Administration for Children and Families, US Department of Health and Human Services

The Ohio State University Early Head Start partnership

The College of Education and Human Ecology’s Schoenbaum Family Center was awarded a new $16.5 million Early Head Start grant to ensure children between 6 weeks and 3 years old in Columbus, Ohio, have a happy and healthy start in life.

One of only two university-led collaborations funded, the five-year Early Head Start Childcare Partnership will focus on the education and welfare of infants and toddlers living in targeted neighborhoods where the child poverty rate is above the norm. Education, health, nutrition and family engagement and community programming will support children and families living in Franklinton; the Hilltop; South Linden; the Near East, Near South and Far South neighborhoods; and the Near North/University District. The community-based partnership includes: Action for Children; Caring Communities Birth-3; Children’s Hunger Alliance; Columbus Public Health Department; Community Properties of Ohio; Franklin County Family and Children First-Help Me Grow; Moms2B; Nationwide Children’s Hospital; and St. Vincent Family Center.

Each year, 160 children will be added to the effort. The result will be high-quality child care and early learning experiences to prepare 800 children for kindergarten. Professional development and coaching will be available to 12 licensed child care centers and for 13 caregivers who are licensed to provide for children in their homes. A particularly unique aspect of this project is the broad geographic distribution of the early care and education providers and the intentional linkage between community-based programs already serving very low-income families.

This project will present many opportunities for research, from understanding school readiness for the children to be served, to learning about the relationships of the providers and agencies in the collaborative, effective teaching practices and parent engagement.

Article by Jane Wiechel, Schoenbaum Family Center. For more information about this award or volunteer opportunities, please contact Jane Wiechel.

This article first appeared in the Spring 2015 issue of In Review, the EHE Office of Research Newsletter.