More than $1.3 million in funding awarded to osteopathic researchers

As part of its strategic initiative to demonstrate the value of osteopathic medicine, the AOA announced $1.3 million in grant funding awarded to 13 projects, including four led by osteopathic medical students.

“The awards committee was inspired by the number of high-quality student-led research proposals it received and is proud to fund several projects this year. It is critically important to support osteopathic research and build the evidence base for interventions that can improve outcomes for patients,” said Kenya McRae, AOA vice president of research.

The grants were selected to support five chosen focus areas:

• Chronic diseases and conditions
• Musculoskeletal injuries and prevention
• Osteopathic manipulative treatment and osteopathic manipulative medicine
• Osteopathic philosophy
• Pain management

Here are the recipients, their institutions and their research projects.

Kathleen Ackert, OMS II, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine: Leveling the Playing Field: Evaluating How Prerequisite Classes Affects Perceived Stress Levels in Medical Students

Elexander Atkinson, OMS III, Edward Via of College of Osteopathic Medicine: Role of Lymphatic Pump Treatment in Wound Healing of Colitis

Jerry Balentine, DO, New York Institute of Technology: Meditation, Alignment with the Osteopathic Philosophy and Empathy in Osteopathic Medical Students: A Randomized Controlled Interventional Trial

Katrina Bantis, OMS II, New York Institute of Technology: The Cardioprotective Benefits of Prolonged Fasting

Helena Jillian Bradley, PhD, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas Campus: The Effect of Facial Effleurage on Acute Rhinosinusitis

Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue, MA, PhD, New York Institute of Technology: A Novel Lifestyle Intervention Program to Improve Body Composition and Chronic Disease Biomarkers in Overweight Medical Students: A Randomized Trial

Malinda (Mindy) Hansen, DO, University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas COM: Effect of Palpatory Neuromodulation of the Trigeminal Nerve for Tenderness in the Posterior Neck Musculature

Lisa M. Hodge, PhD, University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine: The Effects of Lymphatic Pump Treatment on The Immune Response During Acute Pneumonia

Richard Jermyn, DO, Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine: Prospective, Multicenter, Cohort Study of the Cost Effectiveness of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment for Chronic Low Back Pain

Robert E. Kessler, DO, Touro University—Nevada: Oral Fluid Pain Biomarkers as Objective Measures of OMT Outcomes for Cervicogenic Headache (CGH)

Alessandra Posey, DO, Nova Southeastern University: Effects of OMT on Return to Play Post Concussion

Sonia Rivera-Martinez, DO, New York Institute of Technology:  Diabetes and OMM: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Kate Slaymaker, OMS III, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Virginia Campus: Inviting Interdisciplinary Input: An Osteopathic Approach to Leveraging Community Support for Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease in Rural and Appalachian Virginia

Grant periods range from 18 to 24 months. Recipients are strongly encouraged to ultimately submit their research for publication in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.