Center for Health Behaviors Research

RFA - Pilot feasibility (P/F) for VT/Carilion collaborations and health behaviors related studies 

In a partnership with the Carilion Clinic Research Acceleration Program (RAP), the office of the Virginia Tech Vice President of Health Sciences and Technology, and the CHBR, we will fund up to three health behavior related P/F studies up to $20,000/year that demonstrate a high likelihood of future extramural funding. 

Research Focus:  P/F studies focused on areas of research related to health behaviors are designed to provide initial project support for new investigators; allow for exploration of possible innovative new directions for established investigators that represent a significant departure from ongoing funded research; and stimulate investigators from other areas of endeavor to use their expertise for health behaviors research. 

Proposals should align with the mission of Carilion Clinic—to improve the health of the communities we serve and also seek to advance care through medical education and research—and with the mission and foci of the CHBR. Our mission is to conduct and disseminate transformative health behaviors research with the primary objective of preventing and treating life-style related disease. The primary foci of the CHBR include: 

1. Behavioral and neurobiological contributors to health decisions - Examples include: neural and behavioral manipulations and bases of metabolic disease (obesity, prediabetes, and diabetes), eating and physical activity behaviors, addiction, and medical adherence.

2. Molecular and clinical studies of metabolism - Examples include: molecular and cellular mechanisms of metabolic disease; clinical relevance and efficacy of basic discoveries; and mechanisms of variation in responses to interventions (e.g., physical activity, behavioral, pharmaceutical, and dietary interventions).

3. Implementation and dissemination of evidence-based programming; and health policy - Examples include: nutrition and physical activity – across the lifespan; behavioral economics; built environment; food insecurity; food and beverage marketing.

Eligibility: P/F funding is intended to support collaborative proposals from full-time Virginia Tech faculty members and Carilion Clinic health practitioners. Investigators will be expected to follow their projects up with an extramural grant submission in order to be eligible for additional future funding through this program. Funding will only be awarded to applications that are collaborations between Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic. Priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate a high likelihood of future extramural funding.  

For potential investigators interested in finding collaborators, please contact Drs. Bickel, DiFeliceantonio, or Stein. 

Eligible investigators include: 

• new investigators without current or past extramural research project support;
• established investigators with no previous work in health behaviors research;
• established investigators in health behaviors with a proposal to test an innovative idea representing a significant departure from ongoing, externally funded projects; and
• post-doctoral fellows with a co-investigator who is senior faculty mentor who has a strong record of extramural funding as a PI in an area related to the proposed research, and who will agree to provide guidance throughout the conduct of the proposed study.

Procedure:

• Please provide a letter of intent, to include: title, PI(s), and an abstract (<500 words) that highlight the background and significance, hypothesis, specific aims, experimental design and procedures of the project by December 1, 2021. Please also provide an NIH biographical sketch for PI(s) with the letter of intent.
• Invitations for complete proposals will be made no later than January 12, 2022
• Final applications will be due April 13, 2022, and should be a maximum of seven pages using the NIH R21 format (1 page, Specific Aims; 6 pages, Research Strategy).
• Awardees will be notified of funding no later than May 18, 2022.
• The funding period will be July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023, and a timeline for completion of proposed work should be included in the final proposal.
• Letters of intent, NIH biographical sketches and final applications are to be emailed to chbr@vtc.vt.edu.

Investigators are encouraged to contact Drs. Warren Bickel (wkbickel@vtc.vt.edu), Alex DiFeliceantonio (dife@vtc.vt.edu), or Jeff Stein (jstein1@vtc.vt.edu) to determine eligibility and the appropriateness of the project. Acceptance of funding will indicate agreement to submit a grant application for extramural funding to continue the project, and to provide a written final report. 

Interested in participating in research on energy expenditure?

The Center for Health Behaviors Research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, located in Roanoke, is conducting a research study in which participants will undergo 2 different types of measurements of metabolic rate and drink flavored beverages or consume foods. Your involvement may last between 2-12 weeks.

Interested in participating in taste research?

• The Center for Health Behaviors Research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, located in Roanoke, is conducting a 5-week research study in which participants will taste several flavors, drink flavored beverages, and have their blood sugar levels measured.
  

Participants Needed for a Research Study on Dietary Measures and Weight

Are you interested in participating in a research study that will help researchers better understand how weight can affect how researchers measure dietary intake? Participants are needed for a Virginia Tech research study in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise (IRB # 21-588). Study Title: The Impact of Weight Status on Dietary Reporting

You may qualify for this research if you are over the age of 18 years old, are not currently following a weight loss diet, have a body mass index ≥25, and have remained weight-stable for the past 2 months.

Eligible participants will:

• Complete three phone dietary recalls over a two-week period.
• Complete one in-person study visit in Roanoke, VA where height, weight, and energy expenditure will be measured.
• Complete several surveys with questions about weight.
• Schedule and complete one qualitative interview through Zoom.

Each dietary recall should take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete, the study visit should take approximately 90 minutes, and the interview will take about 60 minutes, for a total duration of approximately 4 hours for all study activities.

For more information:

Contact Erica Howes at ericamh@vt.edu or complete the screening survey. 

Sugar, the Brain, and Behavior

The Center for Health Behaviors Research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, located in Roanoke, is conducting a 5-week research study to investigate how foods we eat influence our brains.

Qualifications

• Ages 18-45
• Willing to attend sessions at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in Roanoke

What is involved?

• All sessions in Roanoke
• Participants ages 18-45
• 5 in-person and 3 online sessions over 5 weeks (~18 hours total)
• Drinking sweetened drinks at specified times each week
  
• Measurements of energy use (metabolic rate)
• IV blood draws
• MRI brain scan
  

What you will get

• Up to $420
• Health information, including:
  • Hemoglobin A1C test results
  • Fasting blood sugar results
  • Metabolic rate test results
• An MRI picture of your brain

IRB #23-297

Processed Food Study

The Center for Health Behaviors Research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, located in Roanoke, is conducting a 3-9 week research study in which participants will eat various meals, and have their blood sugar and metabolic rates measured.

For this study, participants will:

• Participate in up to 3 meal conditions for ~2 weeks each
• Consume foods while undergoing measurements of metabolic rate and having blood drawn
• Undergo an fMRI scan

Participants will be compensated up to $590 for participation.

•  If interested in participating, you can: 
  Go to tinyurl.com/nffctu3w and complete the screening survey.
• Email us at dife_lab@vtc.vt.edu.
• Call 540-526-2174 and speak with research staff.

IRB: #21-1052