We are pleased to announce the availability of pilot grants through a new center planning grant, CHAIRS-C. The aim of the CHAIRS-C pilot grant program is to stimulate research at Brown in climate change and health.

Our very own, Omar Galarraga, PhD has been selected in the Atlas of Inspiring Hispanic/Latinx Scientists.

Congratulations to Alyssa Bilinski for winning the Salomon Award. The Richard B. Salomon Faculty Research Awards are competitively awarded and support excellence in scholarly work by providing funding for selected faculty research projects deemed to be of exceptional merit.

The Diamond Fund provides resources to the School of Public Health (SPH) through the Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research to support several types of activities for SPH faculty and students. This support is intended to facilitate aging research collaborations Rhode Island community-based organizations, healthcare providers, or state agencies (e.g., Department of Health).

Ellen McCreedy, assistant professor of health services, policy and practice, and Ann Reddy, project director in the Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research were granted funding for their collaborative projects with community health organizations. Their work focuses on addressing public health challenges that impact children and older adults.

A recent study evaluating COVID-19 vaccine safety was conducted by adjunct faculty member Kevin McConeghy in collaboration with Veteran Health Administration researchers in the Center for Medication Safety and other faculty members in the Brown Departments of Health Systems, Policy and Practice and Epidemiology. The researchers acknowledged concerns about vaccine safety and hesitancy and sought to evaluate overall risk of death with the primary series vaccination. The study utilizes target trial emulation methods to compare risk of death from to any cause in the first 60 days among 3 million Veterans assigned to either COVID-19 vaccination versus no vaccination from March 1, 2021, and July 1, 2021. Veterans assigned to a vaccination strategy experienced a 12–14% lower risk of death at 60 days versus unvaccinated, although the difference was not statistically significant. These findings align with prior scientific knowledge suggesting that vaccination is safe and emphasizes the importance of observational studies, and the VA healthcare system, to assess the risks of rare adverse events and long-term complications.

A study led by Andrew Zullo and his research team reveals notable differences in antibiotic prescribing in nursing homes by the prescriber's type (physician versus advanced practice practitioners) and their specialization in nursing home care. Published in JAMDA, the study examined antibiotic prescriptions for urinary tract infections and pneumonia in over 140,000 U.S. nursing home residents between 2016 and 2018. Notably, nursing home specialists were found to prescribe fluoroquinolones less frequently for urinary tract infections but more often for pneumonia, compared to their non-specialist counterparts. The findings underscore the need for targeted antibiotic stewardship programs that consider the unique roles and specialties of prescribers in nursing home settings. Moreover, the research highlights an encouraging trend: over time, nursing home specialists have significantly reduced their prescriptions of fluoroquinolones for pneumonia more than non-specialists. This suggests a growing adherence to antibiotic stewardship principles among specialized care providers, which is crucial for combating antibiotic resistance and ensuring the safe and effective use of antibiotics.

Although hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) qualify for referral to post-acute care or SNFs at higher rates than patients without OUD, patients with OUD are substantially less likely to be accepted to a SNF. Published in JAMA Network Open, this qualitative study highlights challenges and opportunities for providing evidence-based care for OUD in SNFs through semi-structured interviews from 29 SNF administrators in Rhode Island. Researchers found that gaps in institutional capacity overlap with stigmatizing beliefs about OUD, contributing to discrimination of people with OUD. Adequate SNF funding and staffing combined with OUD-specific interventions (e.g., anti-stigma training, community
partnerships for MOUD and recovery support) have the potential to incentivize SNFs to serve people with OUD and facilitate OUD care consistent with practice guidelines.

Maricruz Rivera-Hernandez co-authored an article published in the Journal of Alzheimer & Dementia regarding the association between delay in initiation of home health services with race and ethnicity and home health quality ratings for Medicare beneficiaries with dementia. They found that among 262,525 Medicare beneficiaries with dementia, black patients with dementia were more likely to experience delay in home health services initiation. Furthermore, black patients receiving care in home health agencies with lower star ratings experienced a higher likelihood of delayed services. These disparities may be driven by structural inequality and lack of access to high-quality services among black patients. Our results suggest that increasing access to high-quality agencies among racial and ethnic groups with ADRD may be a first step in reducing these disparities and improving access to timely initiation of home health services.

A paper published by Betsy White and team was selected by the Health Affairs Editor-in-Chief as one of the journal's Top Ten papers of 2023. The study team found that nursing home staff working the evening and night shifts had significantly lower testing rates and likelihood of vaccination compared to staff working the day shift. These differences reflect structural barriers to access that must be overcome to improve testing and vaccination among nursing home staff.

The Irwin E. Ginsberg P’84 Aging Research Fund was established as a part of Brown University’s permanent endowment. This Fund supports medical or public health student projects (1) related to aging and (2) mentored by faculty affiliated with the Brown University School of Public Health’s Center for Gerontology & Healthcare Research or Center for Long-Term Care Quality & Innovation.

Together, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute have awarded a 5-year, $5 million grant to create the Learning Health systems training to improve Disability and chronic condition care (LeaHD) center at Brown University.

In a cohort study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association of 21,878 older Medicare beneficiaries with multimorbidity residing in nursing homes, Kaley Hayes and her team found that while therapy with standard-dose direct oral anticoagulants was not associated with reductions in mortality or thrombotic events, those on standard dosing experienced 1.4 more major bleeds per 100 person-years compared to those on reduced dosing. Bleeding risks were highest among those aged 80 years or older or those with a body mass index less than 30 kg/m 2 . Given the potential harms and unclear benefits of standard direct oral anticoagulant dosing, our results support the use of reduced-dose direct oral anticoagulants for older adults with multiple comorbidities.

Nearly 95% of older adults in the United States, or 59 million people, have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The messenger-RNA vaccines produced by Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna Inc. are the most widely utilized vaccines, owing to their high degree of efficacy and safety. Published in JAMA Network Open, Dan Harris led a team of researchers in the Center for Gerontology & Healthcare Research at the Brown University School of Public Health to conduct the largest head-to-head comparison of the mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 in older adults and individuals with increased frailty. While both vaccines were exceptionally safe, the mRNA vaccine produced by Moderna Inc. was associated with slightly improved protection against COVID-19 and its negative consequences (e.g., pulmonary embolism) compared to the vaccine produced by Pfizer BioNTech. However, the relative advantages of Moderna Inc were reduced in individuals with greater frailty.

Congratulations to the Ginsberg Aging Research Fund 2023 Awardees Khushi T. Patel and Erum Choudry

Two-thirds of nursing home residents in the United States are given antibiotics during their facility stays, a long-term study of Medicare Part D data has found.

Fund supports Brown University medical or public health student projects (1) related to aging and (2) mentored by faculty affiliated with the Brown University School of Public Health’s Center for Gerontology & Healthcare Research or Center for Long-Term Care Quality & Innovation.

McKnight’s first-ever Pinnacle Awards honors industry veterans who have set
standards, driven change, and provided guidance and inspiration to peers and the
senior care, skilled nursing, or the home care sector at large.

We are pleased to announce that Kaley Hayes, Assistant Professor, has been selected as an Emerging Leader at the International Society for Pharmacoepide 2022 Annual Meeting.

Congratulations to the Ginsberg Aging Research Fund 2022 Awardees.

Barbara Bardenheier et al. find that nursing home residents have no higher risk of adverse events following mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccination when compared to vaccinated residents who haven't yet been boosted.

Congratulations to David Meyers, he is in the top 10 of Health Affairs In 2021: Editor’s Picks.

Introducing Chanee Fabius, a former AHRQ trainee here at the Center for Gerontology & Health Care Research.

Introducing Clara Berridge, a former AHRQ trainee here at the Center for Gerontology.

"Model Development to Predict Hip Fracture in Nursing Home Residents" was presented at the American Geriatrics Society in May and won the Best Abstract Award for Epidemiology.

Kali Thomas has been approved for a $4 million award by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

Congratulations to Dr. Richard Besdine for receiving The Miriam Hospital's The Charles “Bud” Kahn, MD Lifetime Leadership Award.

McKnight's Long Term Care News highlights the research by Associate Professor Kali Thomas.

Matthew S. Duprey, PharmD, PhD, is one of two recipients for the inaugural Borten Family Foundation Junior Investigator Awardees from the American Delirium Society.

Vince Mor, Ph.D. is one of the two recipients this year to receive Brown's Rosenberger Medal.

The Center for Gerontology & Health Care Research is pleased to announce that Sarah Kler is the recipient of this year’s MD ’21 Gerontology Center Prize.

Emmanuelle 'Emma' Belanger is a new Editorial Board Member of the BioMed (BMC) Palliative Care Journal

Congratulations to Jackie Ellison (one of our Center's postdocs), Megan B. Cole (completed her PhD here at Brown University School of Public Health and is currently an Assistant Professor at Boston University) and Paul Shafer! Their article, "Racial/Ethnic And Income-Based Disparities In Health Savings Account Participation Among Privately Insured Adults," was one of the top 10 articles in 2020 at Health Affairs to be selected as one of the best.

Congratulations to Jackie Ellison (one of our Center's postdocs), Megan B. Cole (completed her PhD here at Brown University School of Public Health and is currently an Assistant Professor at Boston University), and Paul Shafer! Their article, "Racial/Ethnic And Income-Based Disparities In Health Savings Account Participation Among Privately Insured Adults," was one of the top 10 articles in 2020 at Health Affairs to be selected as one of the best.

Patience Moyo has been selected to be an Editorial Fellow for the Journal of Addiction Medicine

The Health Services Research Association AU.NZ (HSRAANZ) announced the 2020 award winners. Professor Amal Trivedi is the recipient for the best paper overall. The title of the paper is, "Copayment Incentive Increased Medication Use And Reduced Spending Among Indigenous Australians After 2010." Authors are: Trivedi AN, and Kelaher M. Health Aff (Millwood). 2020 Feb;39(2):289-296. This paper used a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences design to evaluate the consequences of Australia’s Closing the Gap Copayment policy.

The Health Services Research Association Au.NZ (HSRAANZ) announced the 2020 award winners. Professor Amal Trivedi is the recipient of the best paper overall. The title of the paper is, "Copayment Incentive Increased Medication Use And Reduced Spending Among Indigenous Australians After 2010." Authors are: Trivedi AN, and Kelaher M. Health Aff (Millwood). This paper used a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences design to evaluate the consequences of Australia’s Closing the Gap Copayment policy.

Postdoctoral research associate Matthew Duprey receives Best Resident/Fellow Poster Award from ACCP

Congratulations to Ellen McCreedy, MPH, PhD, Assistant Professor, Health Services Policy & Practice for receiving an NIA COVID-19 Supplemental Award to test the ‘Effect of a COVID - Specific Advance Care Planning Intervention on Documentation of Advance Directives and Goals of Care’.

Emily Gadbois, Assistant Professor, has been selected as a 2020-21 Junior Faculty Teaching Fellow in the Sheridan Center's year-long program.

Congratulations to Professor Vince Mor on being named one of McKnight's Senior Living 40 notable newsmakers celebrated on their 40th anniversary! Professor Mor has been the principal investigator of more than 40 National Institutes of Health-funded grants during his 40 years at Brown University.

Award from USC's Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research

Dr. Maricruz Rivera-Hernandez was awarded the Early Stages Disparities Investigator Award at the 2020 Academy Health Virtual Meeting. 

Kali S. Thomas, Associate Professor, has just been recently named as one of the 33 individuals for fellow status within the Gerontological Society of America.

New York Times analysis uses Brown’s Center for Gerontology & Healthcare Research data, LTCFocus.org, finds substantial racial disparity of #COVID19 in nursing homes.