Ongoing Research Support
Role of Microbiome on Bowel Health After Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Yarar-Fisher & Farrow (co-PIs): Evans (investigator): We are teaming up with the Yarar-Fisher lab to document the velocity in the SMA pre and post prandial, in SCI participants. In addition, electrical stimulation to the extremities will allow us to also document pre and post “exercise” flow in the radial and popliteal arteries. All our contributions will feed into this larger funded study by the PIs. We hope to analyze Doppler data from a cohort of 13 SCI participants who are more than a year from inital injury. Our LII team is concerned whether published SMA velocities will need to be ammended and also how many participants may have diagnostic signs of SMA syndrome. (Project contact Andrew Loney, BS).
Documenting the progression of acute to chronic work-related musculoskeletal injuries: A national survey of ultrasound users. Roll & Sommerich (co-PI); Evans (co-I): This has been an ongoing funded survey research project. It has culminated in a national data base of registrants who update their health status and report on their acute to chronic incidence of work-related musculoskeletal injuries, specific to the sonography workplace. This data base will collect health data on sonographers, vascular technologists, and sonologists (physicians performing sonography). This comprehensive longitudinal survey of the professional will the largest and most detailed record of work-related injuries in the field. This builds on the early work and publications that were completed by Evans, Roll, and Baker in 2007. A team of researchers continues to complete this longitudinal project. Data will be embargoed until the longitudinal registry is searchable and reporting can be accessible by the sponsoring organizations. Our team has a pending R01 grant proposal to extend this work under review with AHRQ. (Project contact Shawn Roll, PhD).
Shawn Roll, PhD, co-PI at University of Southern California
Exploring the use of self-care strategies to assuage young adults’ COVID-19 symptoms: A study of potential health outcomes. Evans (PI): This new study of COVID survivors is in many ways a replication of our pediatric study. In this cohort of 18-25 year old young adults, we are again taking imaging data from a cardiac echo, carotid sonogram, and lung sonogram to gauge the presence of ongoing pathology. Additionally, this cohort will provide survey information by completing a battery of surveys and interviews to discover the amount of self-medication and use of other substances to manage their pain. We are funded for 25 participants with an award from the OSU Emeritus Academy Grant Selection Committee. With additionally foundation funding we plan to add an additional 25 participants so that we have a more robust cohort. (Project contact Robert McIntyre, BS).
Masters Respiratory Therapist student completing cardio-lung sonography training.
Student respiratory therapy (RT) training in chest sonography in the management of long-COVID-19: A value-added skill. Evans (PI). Educational research has great value and this project will be aimed at increasing clincial skills for both BS and MS RT graduates. We have been providing short course in the use of lung and cardiac ultrasound but this funding allows us to provide a more translatable set of clinicals skills that RTs can use to monitor the progress of COVID patients in the ICU. This two year educational project will allow our team of educational researchers to not only gather a needs assessment from prior grads but also instruct RT students that will likely total 50 trainees over the two year period. We will also gather important formative and summative educational data from the students. This work is being generously funded by the American Association of Respiratory Care -Vision Award. (Project contact Huriah Al Sultan, MS).
Secondary Data Analysis of risk factors associated with COVID-19 in your adults: A nationally representative sample. Evans (PI), Taylor (co-PI). Besides generating new data on participants with long-COVID symptoms, we are also focusing on the use of secondary data analysis of these same risk factors. Two important existing data sources are being mined for possible nationally representative data outcomes. We are exploring the NHANES data base for risk factors of young adults prior to the historical event and also after, to determine the prevalence of specific risk factors. Dr. Evans is also a member of the NIH’s NC3 COVID data collaborative that could also provide a different set of data, based on over 6 million patient records. Andrew Loney -Biology BS; pre-med is gaining invaluable skills as part of this data analysis. (Project contact Huriah Al Sultan, MS).
Completed Research Support
SARS-CoV-2 pediatric survivors with possible chronic health conditions: The use of non-ionizing imaging and biomarkers to efficiently guide primary care management. Evans (PI) Liyannage (co-PI): In conjunction with Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) and the pulmonary clinic, Drs. Evans and Kopp worked to develop a diagnostic and therapeutic clinic for children 12-15 years of age, who survived COVID-19. These patients in the pulmonary clinic were complaining of lingering disease and need diagnostic surveillance to determine the extent of their disease. The NCH Cardiology department, provided a cardiac MRI for these participants to further examine for subtle changes in heart function, due to COVID. This work was supported by funding by NCH and also has the support of Namal Liyannage, PhD. Huriah Al Sultan was given a SDMS Foundation grant to support this study. (Project contact Huriah Al-Sultan, MS)
Screening SNAP eligible children for early signs of cardiovascular and metabolic disease. American Dietary Association: Spees, C (PI) ; Evans KD (co-I): This three year research has been funded as an interventional study for providing SNAP eligible 4th graders, from Columbus Public School Systems, as an opportunity to harvest fresh vegetables. Dr. Spees is a nationally known dietary researcher and this study has been referred to as the “Garden Study”. Although this study has formally concluded, the ongoing data analysis and biospecimens are due for further processing.
Product Evaluation for MediView, LLC: Augmented Reality coupled to an ultrasound equipment system. Evans (PI): This amazing technology has the potential to allow the physician, sonographer, and other ultrasound user to visualize the sonographic image on the lens of the XR-50 visor and complete ultrasound guided procedures without turning toward the ultrasound equipment system. The funding provided by MediView, LLC allowed our team to provide valuable product information to the engineers and designers for further equipment upgrades. We believe this product could assist in reducing some of the risk for work-related musculoskeletal injuries in our ultrasound users.
Screening Asymptomatic Patients with Hand-held Ultrasound to Assess Their Risk of a Cardiovascular Event. ASRT Educational Foundation: Evans (PI) The overall goal of this proposed project is to find a non-ionizing and relative inexpensive way to assess cardiovascular disease risk (CVD) in a primary care physician setting. Through the use of new handheld ultrasound technology (US), we hope to show that abdominal aortic calcification measured with US is a better predictor of CVD than the current standard of the Framingham risk score. In Phase B, the pilot work (Phase A) is translated to a family practice clinic where patients 40-60 years of age are provided with the battery of CVD screening tests.
Clinical Equivalency with CAE simulators for sonographers and medical students sonography clinical competency. ARDMS/ Inteleos: Evans (site PI) Phase 2B: This is the international arm of the study and will take place with CAE donations at the following medical training facilities: Zhejiang People’s Hospital, Hangzhou College of Medicine, and West China Hospital. Funding was provided by Inteleos allows for our research team to assist faculty in these institutions to not only add simulation to their educational curriculum but also to collect valuable discipline-based education research (DBER).
Ohio Occupational Safety and Health Research Program: Evans (PI) Implementing a series of micro and macro-ergonomic interventions to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The overall goal of the proposed research is to measure the educational effects of providing ergonomics education, engineering solutions, and mindful yoga to 2 classes of Radiographers and Radiation Therapists, at Ohio State and Kent State-Salem.
Midmark Corporation: Sommerich (PI)-Evans (Co-I) Validating exam room flow designs that improve usability, usefulness, and desirability of outpatient clinical spaces. The purpose of this project is to document the effects of changes to an outpatient clinic patient examination room on workflow, staff and provider ergonomics, and stakeholder perceptions. Midmark supported John Mickley, BS Undergraduate research thesis: Pilot application of varied equipment and procedural techniques to determine clinical blood pressure measurements.
R01 OH010181-02: Lavender (PI)-Evans (co-PI) A participatory design process addressing the ergonomics of hospital patient rooms. To work with a series of stakeholders to determine the correct parameters within the patient room to accommodate a workspace that is ergonomically friendly. The design of the ultimate room space should allow for a place that is conducive to providing care to all patients by a variety of care providers.
R21 OH009907-02: Evans (PI) An experimental investigation into the staging of CTS utilizing portable ultrasound. The goal of this study is to determine if diagnostic ultrasound can detect changes in the median nerve based on longitudinal exposure to a repetitive task, in an animal model. The use of hand-carried ultrasound machine allows for recording longitudinal data and possible development of carpal tunnel syndrome.