Author: aewatzka

“I Want to Know Everything …  ”: The Return of Research Results and the Importance of Transparency in the Acceptability of Lumbar Punctures for African American Older Adults

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Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (2023) Authors: Susan Racine Passmore, Colin Longhurst, Abigail Gerbitz, Gina Green-Harris, Nia Norris, Dorothy Farrar Edwards Abstract: Although African Americans experience the highest risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), they are dramatically underrepresented in preclinical biomarker research. This is especially true for studies involving lumbar puncture as it may involve more perceived risk even for those participants who are otherwise supportive …

Engaging Community Doulas with a Remote Postpartum Hypertension Program for Black Persons: A Qualitative Study

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American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology (2024) Authors: Elizabeth Albert, Megan Knutson Sinaise, Tia Murray, Nicole Thomas, Kathleen Wannemuehler, Susan Passmore, Kara K. Hoppe Abstract: Perform a qualitative assessment of the postpartum (PP) person’s experiences with addition of a community-based doula in an existing remote patient monitoring (RPM) program for PP hypertension (HTN).Qualitative study to explore Black PP person’s experience with …

“My Blood, You Know, My Biology Being out There…”: Consent and Participant Control of Biological Samples

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Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics (2024) Authors: Susan Racine Passmore, Abigail Gerbitz, Gregory R. Hancock, Laura Evans, Gina Green-Harris, Dorothy Farrar Edwards, Tyson Jackson, and Stephen B. Thomas Abstract: The widespread and persistent underrepresentation of groups experiencing health disparities in research involving biospecimens is a barrier to scientific knowledge and advances in health equity. To ensure that all groups have the opportunity to participate in research …

Just Research: Evaluation Findings of an Educational Program to Promote Inclusive Research Among Investigators and Research Staff

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Journal of Clinical and Translational Science (2024) Authors: Susan Racine Passmore, Gina Green-Harris, Peter Kirschmann, Amarette Filut, Katrina Phelps, Mariana Garcia, Dorothy Farrar Edwards Abstract: Educational opportunities for investigators and staff to promote inclusive research practices are a critical piece of the effort to increase diversity in study participation and promote health equity. However, few …

Investigating Potential Disparities in Clinical Trial Eligibility and Enrollment at an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center

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Cancer Medicine (2023) Authors: Monica Patel, Jennifer Shah, Floyd John Brinley IV, Paul Abrahamse, Christine Veenstra, Anne Schott Abstract: Although barriers to trial accrual are well-reported, few studies have explored trial eligibility and trial offers as potential drivers of disparities in cancer clinical trial enrollment. We identified patients with gastrointestinal (GI) or head/neck (HN) malignancies who were seen as new patients …

Are Those All My Options? Evaluating Oncologists’ Communication Strategies in Treatment and Clinical Trial Discussions by Race and Gender

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Supportive Care in Cancer (2025) Authors: Monica Arun Patel, Samantha Vuong, Bonyan Qudah, Noelle K LoConte, Narjust Florez, Jennifer M Weiss, Earlise Ward, Fauzia Hollnagel, Michael C Matthews, Toby C Campbell Abstract: Increasing patient enrollment and promoting equity in trial participation are essential to improving cancer care outcomes. Physicians play a crucial role in decision-making, making it important to understand communication strategies used by oncologists when …

Associations Between Serum Vitamin D Biomarkers and Tumor Expression of Ki67, p53, and COX-2 in Colorectal Cancer Cases from the Southern Community Cohort Study

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The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2023) Authors: Thomas Lawler, Timothy Su, Qiuyin Cai, Mark D Steinwandel, Wei Zheng, William J Blot, Shaneda Warren Andersen Abstract: Higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with lower colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, with limited data from African Americans (AAs), who have greater risk for CRC and 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency. In a predominantly AA sample of …

Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) of Circulating Vitamin D Outcomes Among Individuals of African Ancestry

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The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2023) Authors: Lisa A. Parlato, Rene Welch, Irene M. Ong, Jirong Long, Qiuyin Cai, Mark D. Steinwandel, William J. Blot, Wei Zheng, Shaneda Warren Anderson Abstract: Vitamin D deficiency is more common among African-ancestry individuals and may be associated with adverse health outcomes. Vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) regulates concentrations …

Associations Between Folate and Alcohol Consumption with Colorectal Tumor Ki67 Expression in the Southern Community Cohort Study

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Nutrition and Cancer (2023) Authors: Thomas Lawler, Timothy Su, Qiuyin Cai, Mark D. Steinwandel, Wei Zheng, Shaneda Warren Andersen Abstract: Folate is hypothesized to accelerate cell proliferation in colorectal cancer (CRC) by supporting DNA synthesis, while alcohol is also linked to gastrointestinal epithelial proliferation, despite biological antagonism of folate. We report associations between folate and alcohol consumption …

Prediagnostic 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in Association with Cancer-specific and All-cause Mortality Among Low-income, Non-Hispanic Black Americans with Colorectal Cancer

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Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (2023) Authors: Thomas P Lawler, Nikhil K Khankari, Xiao-Ou Shu, Mark Steinwandel, Qiuyin Cai, Peter W Jurutka, Wei Zheng, Shaneda Warren Andersen Abstract: Observational studies show high prediagnosis 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with lower mortality after colorectal cancer diagnosis. Results from clinical trials suggest vitamin D supplementation may improve outcomes among patients with colorectal cancer. Most studies …