WILMINGTON, N.C. – Thanks to a $1 million investment, Novant Health physicians based in Wilmington are partnering with peer physicians and researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to advance two clinical research efforts in North Carolina.
The pair of $500,000 research grants was awarded by a collaborative involving Novant Health, UNC Health and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. The funding will launch joint Novant Health and UNC School of Medicine studies focusing on advancing early identification of liver disease to improve patient outcomes and explore evidence-based treatment for shoulder injuries.
"With this round of funding, we've now invested $3 million to launch six separate collaborative research projects between Novant Health and UNC that focus on improving health outcomes and further strengthening research infrastructure in the Wilmington region," said Dr. Joseph Pino, senior vice president of medical education and research for Novant Health. “These latest projects focus on two important conditions, liver disease and orthopedic injuries, that can impact overall health and quality of life."
The organizations formed an expanded alliance as part of Novant Health's 2021 acquisition of what is now Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. In addition to expanding clinical research, the organizations are also growing medical education and pediatric specialty care, with an emphasis on Novant Health's Coastal Region in southeastern North Carolina.
The latest award bolsters previously funded research: This collaborative previously awarded a total of $2 million to launch four other research projects. Each study is led by investigators based in both Chapel Hill and Wilmington, and work on those projects continues. The collaborative also previously invested nearly $1 million to launch 19 individual $50,000 research grants.
"Investment in research is essential to deepening our understanding of disease processes and advancing patient care. The affiliation between Novant Health, UNC Health and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine brings collaborative research efforts directly to patients living along the coast," said Dr. Sherry Ross, faculty director of outreach initiatives, UNC School of Medicine. "With $2 million previously dedicated to research initiatives and an additional $1 million now supporting studies in two critical areas — liver disease and orthopedic injuries — the alliance between Novant Health and UNC continues to enhance health outcomes and improve the lives of patients in southeastern North Carolina."
Advancing early identification of chronic liver disease to support prevention treatment
Because chronic liver disease can be reversable in its earlier stages, early identification is vital to prevent the disease. Without prevention, liver disease can lead to cirrhosis, when the liver develops permanent scarring, putting patients at risk of liver failure.
This effort will develop an innovative clinical research program to enhance primary care for patients at risk for or diagnosed with chronic liver disease, which can be caused by hepatitis, heavy alcohol use, and fatty liver disease, which is linked with conditions such as obesity and diabetes.
As part of the project, researchers will enroll patients who are either diagnosed with or have a high risk of developing chronic liver disease and then study interventions, such as behavioral health support and a diabetes prevention program. If successful, the interventions will ultimately improve patient care and could serve as a model for future research across chronic disease disciplines.
The project, titled “Patient-Centered Research Capacity Building for Chronic Liver Disease in Coastal NC: A Multidisciplinary Collaboration,” is led by Dr. Sidney Barritt, Donna Evon, Ph.D. and Dr. Minzhi Xing from UNC and Dr. Charin Hanlon and Dr. Meredith Holt from Novant Health.
Exploring evidence-based treatment for muscle and orthopedic injuries
The second project will establish a research collaborative that focuses on advancing evidence-based treatment for orthopedic and musculoskeletal injuries, initially focusing on shoulder injuries, to include rotator cuff injuries and arm bone fractures.
Shoulder injuries can stem from falls, which can be more common and more serious in an aging population. Rotator cuff injuries and fractures are also more common in older adults. Shoulder injuries can limit mobility, impacting daily life, and result in chronic pain. Pain and instability can lead to physical inactivity, which can contribute to other health problems such as diabetes, obesity or heart disease.
Ensuring optimal treatment for shoulder injuries positively impacts well-being and quality of life.
The project, titled “Carolina Musculoskeletal Research Consortium,” is led by Joe Hart, Ph.D. from UNC and Dr. William Hope from Novant Health.
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