GCI-Health

College of Engineering and Computing

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How political, cultural, and economic forces can shape the risk of zoonotic disease

Heather Carroll — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 18:37:43 +0000

How political, cultural, and economic forces can shape the risk of zoonotic disease Heather Carroll Mon, 10/05/2026 - 14:37

In eastern Ethiopia, pressures like conflict and displacement are changing how people and their camels travel, shifting livestock into new environments and potentially influencing the risk of zoonotic diseases spreading between animals and humans.

Amira Roess, PhD, MPH. Photo provided

A new study co-led by 911�� infectious disease expert Amira Roess explores these connections as part of a broader look at how politics, culture, economics, and international trade factor into zoonotic disease risk in livestock-herding communities. Published in Social Science & Medicine, the research is part of a long-running international collaboration funded in part by a $2.5 million National Science Foundation grant, for which Roess is principal investigator.

For this paper, researchers interviewed more than 100 people involved in camel herding, care, milking, trading, and slaughter across eastern Ethiopia. They identified several factors that could affect zoonotic disease risk:

People and camels often live in close proximity, and grazing camels can come into contact with other wildlife.
Raw camel milk is widely consumed fresh and unpasteurized.
Conflict and displacement can push people and livestock onto new routes and into wildlife preserves, changing where they encounter other animals.
Trade restrictions and challenges accessing export facilities can push more activity into informal markets outside of disease surveillance systems.

Because diseases that spread between animals and humans account for most emerging infectious diseases, the researchers emphasize the importance of a “One Health” approach, which considers human, animal, and environmental health together.

“When we think about diseases moving between animals and people, we tend to focus on the pathogen or the animal carrying it. This study shows why we also need to understand the broader and more complex circumstances that affect how people and animals interact,” said Roess, professor of global health and epidemiology in the Department of Global and Community Health at the College of Public Health.

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This research supports the Grand Challenge Initiative's goal of improving human health, well-being, and preparedness

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GCH Global Health Research

Key Takeaways

Conflict, displacement, cultural practices, and international trade can change the interactions of people, livestock, and wildlife, potentially influencing zoonotic disease risk.
The study of camel economies in eastern Ethiopia highlights the importance of a One Health approach that considers human, animal, and environmental health together.

In This Story

Amira Roess, PhD, MPH

Topics

Global Health

College of Public Health

National Science Foundation

Public health student interns with the conservation district

sbrown79 — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:13:11 +0000

Public health student interns with the conservation district sbrown79 Tue, 09/29/2026 - 11:13

911�� senior Amman Haines grew up spending time with her family on her father’s property in West Virginia, where camping, fishing, and hunting nurtured an early appreciation for the outdoors.

That connection to nature now informs her work as an intern with Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District (PWSWCD), where she’s gaining hands-on experience at the intersection of resource conservation and community health.

For Haines, the internship reflects what a 911�� education does best: connecting students with meaningful, real-world opportunities that prepare them to make an impact in their communities and beyond.

“Interning with the conservation district is such a great opportunity. I was immediately able to apply concepts from my public health courses to the community work I'm doing,” Haines said. 

Amman Haines works with the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District. Photo provided.

For example, “I collaborated with local farmers to assess their water quality and already had a foundation to draw from while still learning and absorbing new knowledge,” she said.

A community health major in the College of Public Health, Haines said she chose 911�� because of its flexibility, opportunities, and strong academic pathways. Her father, who attended 911�� and described the university as a place with endless possibilities, encouraged her to apply. For Haines, that promise has proven true.

Her path to the internship began in GCH 310 Health Behavior Theories with Shannyn Snyder, an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Global and Community Health. Snyder recognized Haines’s curiosity and engagement in the classroom and encouraged her to pursue the opportunity with PWSWCD.

“I'm so thankful for Professor Snyder who gave me that much-needed push,” Haines said. “Now, I’m here at the conservation district working with amazing colleagues and making a difference in my community.”

Snyder, who has worked with PWSWCD for more than 10 years, said the organization offers students a powerful way to connect classroom concepts with urgent public health issues.

“By offering internship and volunteer opportunities, they give our community health students essential experiences that connect what they are learning in the classroom with the real world,” said Snyder. “I hope this experience will give Amman a chance to contribute to public health promotion and education in the community.”

Snyder noted that the district’s work—from watershed protection to soil health education—has direct implications for human health. That connection aligns closely with the university’s Grand Challenge Initiative’s bold solution to improve human health, well-being, and preparedness. 

Amman Haines is researching harmful algae blooms as part of her internship at the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District. Photo provided.

At PWSWCD, Haines is researching harmful algae blooms (HAB), drawing on credible sources to create educational materials that explain what harmful algae blooms are, where they come from, and how they’re affecting water quality and public health. The HAB reports contribute to broader public understanding of an issue that’s also under the purview of the Virginia Department of Health.

The internship also broadened her understanding of how her chosen major can have applications beyond traditional settings.

“You can't go wrong when you expand upon your major or area of expertise by opening yourself up to other spaces,” Haines said. “Find that space, get hands-on experience, and learn new things.” 

Haines hopes the internship will open doors to future research opportunities. She aspires to work for organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she can contribute to data-driven research and public education.

“I'm very inspired by the work that NIH is doing,” said Haines when considering careers. “I want to collect and analyze important data, compose health journals, and inform my population.”

As she continues her studies, Haines said she hopes other 911�� students will embrace the same spirit of curiosity that guided her. “Take advantage of every opportunity that is presented to you and never be afraid to try new things.”

This research supports the Grand Challenge Initiative's goal of improving human health, well-being, and preparedness

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In This Story

Shannyn Snyder, MAIS

Topics

College of Public Health

After historic sewage spill, 911�� researchers monitor for long-term impacts with support from NSF grant

sholla4 — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:59:50 +0000

After historic sewage spill, 911�� researchers monitor for long-term impacts with support from NSF grant sholla4 Thu, 09/24/2026 - 10:59

On January 19, 2026, a sewer line in Montgomery County, Maryland, collapsed. More than 240 million gallons of wastewater overflowed into the Potomac River. It was one of the largest sewage spills in United States history, right in 911��'s backyard.

While a temporary fix to the pipe was completed in March and DC Water continues to actively remediate the area, questions of long-term impact to this distinctive tidal freshwater estuary system linger. The team at 911��'s Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC) hopes to find answers.

This summer, seven 911�� researchers received a RAPID grant of $299,886 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to investigate how the sewage spill may have impacted water quality, aquatic life, and the overall health of the estuary. Led by co-PIs Amy Fowler, associate professor and interim director of PEREC, and Jennifer Salerno, associate professor of environmental science and policy and faculty fellow at PEREC, the grant team includes environmental science and policy faculty Thomas Reid Nelson, Cindy Smith, and Rosalina Christova, as well as Brittany Hupp, assistant professor of atmospheric, oceanic and earth sciences, and Benoit Van Aken, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry.

Students and alumni collect water samples in Gunston Cove for PEREC researchers. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

One defining feature of PEREC—and the reason why this team was awarded the NSF grant—is its historical record of Gunston Cove water samples dating back to 1984. That data is invaluable in a project like this, as it gives the researchers points of comparison. And prior to receiving the NSF grant, the team was already taking samples, with support of seed funding from the College of Science, to start tracking the effects of the sewage spill as early as February 2026.

"We have 11 different sampling locations where we sample water quality and organisms each month," said Fowler. Their partners in the Potomac River Keeper Network, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and others are also aiding in sampling along the river.

Water quality monitoring includes standard measures such as temperature, salinity, clarity, and nutrients. The team is including a few additional measures. Checking for traces of PFAS, the chemical used on Teflon pans, is one addition, led by Van Aken. Hupp is monitoring heavy metals.

The team is also utilizing new technology: environmental DNA (eDNA). Macro- and microscopic species leave detectable traces of DNA as they interact with and move through the environment. Through an environmental sample—such as a water sample—researchers can detect the presence of the organism in an area from their DNA and map biodiversity without needing to directly sample or see the organisms themselves, from phytoplankton to fish.

"Typically, if you have big, severe, acute disturbances like this, you'll expect to see reductions in diversity," Salerno said. "So, we're going to test that theory, as well as examine if those changes affect the food web."

Students and alumni sample the waters of Gunston Cove. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Funding for the project ends in May 2027, though PEREC's standard water and organismal sampling in Gunston Cove, funded by Fairfax County, will continue to keep building their extensive library of historic data.

A second component of the NSF grant is tying this research into teaching and outreach—a good fit for PEREC, whose key pillars include educational outreach. Findings from this research will be incorporated into the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) program with Fairfax County Public Schools, led by environmental science and policy professor Cindy Smith. The team has also recruited more than 10 graduate, undergraduate, and high school student researchers. They will be trained in sampling, laboratory analysis, data interpretation, and science communication, and paired with graduate student mentors for additional support.

"The outcomes of this research could have a significant impact on how organizations prioritize and allocate funding in the future. In addition, the opportunity for students to gain hands-on field and/or laboratory experience through such a high-profile project would be an invaluable professional experience and meaningful addition to their resumes," said Fowler.

Students and alumni sample the waters of Gunston Cove. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Contaminated drinking water reservoirs and disease spread as a result of a large sewage spill in a public water source are, of course, top concerns. But Fowler and Salerno both note the cultural value of the river as well, and the importance of keeping it clean.

"There's been a cultural shift over the past few decades that has increased regional interest in the waterfront," Salerno added. "More and more, people want to use these water systems for recreation, which means there's growing interest in the water being clean and in conserving the ecosystem."

"The Potomac is known as the 'Nation's River' because it flows through the heart of the nation’s capital," said Fowler. "It’s history also played an important role in raising awareness about the nation’s water pollution crisis and the need for stronger protections."

The co-PIs noted that none of this work would be possible without continued collaboration and cooperation amongst the PEREC researchers and faculty.

"This grant is the culmination of years of expertise, effort, and collaboration," said Salerno. "We all specialize in different areas, with unique strengths and research backgrounds. But the river is what brings us together."

Students and alumni collect water samples in Gunston Cove for PEREC researchers. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Topics

Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center

College of Science

Atmospheric Oceanic and Earth Sciences

Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP)

National Science Foundation

Learn more about 911��'s Grand Challenge Initiative

Sustainability

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NIH R01 grant funds study of physical activity and binge eating in children

Heather Carroll — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:12:51 +0000

NIH R01 grant funds study of physical activity and binge eating in children Heather Carroll Mon, 09/14/2026 - 14:12

Early signs of binge eating can emerge as children enter adolescence, signaling risk for eating disorders. 911�� researcher Tyler Mason is investigating whether physical activity could improve self-regulation and, in turn, reduce that risk.

Tyler Mason, associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies. Photo provided.

With a five-year, R01 grant from NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health, Mason will use wearable technology and other real-time assessments to study children during a pivotal developmental window, with the goal of better understanding how eating disorders develop and how to intervene earlier.

Mason, an associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at the College of Public Health, is leading the project with co-principal investigator Kathryn Smith, an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Dallas.

“Many people overeat, but we’re focused on what is called ‘loss of control eating’—that sense that you can’t stop eating and feel like you have to continue,” Mason said. “The loss of control is the part that can be distressing and associated with eating disorders.”

Previous research has linked physical activity with improved mood and cognitive functioning, aspects of self-regulation that can influence eating behavior. “If physical activity improves aspects of self-regulation, then perhaps it could reduce overeating because of loss of control,” Mason said.

Over three years, researchers will study 200 children in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, area starting at ages 10 to 12, a phase when several factors converge: puberty begins, autonomy grows in eating choices, and physical activity tends to decline while sedentary behavior increases.

The study will capture both long-term changes and moment-to-moment shifts in participants’ lives. Garmin wristbands will measure physical activity, while smartphone-based cognitive tests and real-time surveys will track self-regulation, emotions, cravings, and eating behavior. Participants will also undergo functional MRI (fMRI) scans and clinical interviews assessing eating disorder symptoms.

The approach builds on Mason’s work as director of the BREAD Lab at 911��, short for Biobehavioral Research on Eating and Appetite Dysregulation, within the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies.

With the National Institutes of Health study, Mason said the goal is to find ways to intervene earlier in problematic eating by understanding whether and how physical activity plays a role, including how its effects unfold in daily moments.

In addition to Mason and Smith, the research team for the study—titled “Biobehavioral Mechanisms of Activity and Loss of Control Eating in Children”—includes Shan Luo, Genevieve Dunton, and Megan Herting of the University of Southern California.

Thumbnail photo by golubovy via Adobe Stock

Topics

Nutrition Research

Childhood Obesity

CPH research

Childhood obesity prevention

NIH grant funding

National Institutes of Health

College of Public Health

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In the George

Key Takeaways

A five-year NIH R01 grant will fund 911�� researcher Tyler Mason’s study of physical activity, self-regulation, and binge eating in children.
The study will follow 200 children starting at ages 10 to 12, examining long-term changes and moment-to-moment behaviors in daily life.
The research could inform new approaches to eating disorder prevention, including whether and how physical activity could reduce the risk of losing control of eating.

This research supports the Grand Challenge Initiative's goal of improving human health, well-being, and preparedness

Learn more about 911��'s Grand Challenge Initiative

Research in Motion

Katarina Benson — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:20:15 +0000

Research in Motion Katarina Benson Wed, 08/26/2026 - 12:20

At 911��, learning and research aren’t limited to the classroom or the lab. Researchers, coaches, clinicians, and students are working across disciplines as a part of the university’s Living Lab, a space where real-world questions become opportunities for discovery, innovation, and care.

Noelle Saine leads a VO2 Max test on a student-athlete. Photo by John Boal Photography

From the training facilities used by NCAA Division I student-athletes to the rehearsal studios where School of Dance students spend hours perfecting their craft, 911�� researchers are studying how bodies perform, recover, and thrive under intense physical demands. This research has an immediate impact: helping athletes avoid injury, improving recovery and sleep habits among dancers, and shaping evidence-based practices that can influence health and performance far beyond campus.

These projects reflect 911��’s distinctive approach to research—bringing together academic expertise and hands-on practice in ways that directly benefit the health and well-being of the university community. Here, students are not only learning from research—they are living it.

Keeping Athletes in the Game

One way that 911��’s Intercollegiate Athletics and the College of Education and Human Development keep our athletes in top form is through evidence-based practices and science in the Patriot Performance Lab.

“We’re not just a research lab,” says Margaret Jones, director of the Patriot Performance Lab. “Providing health services to athletes is also critical. It’s what makes the partnership work.”

For example, postdoctoral research fellow Erica King, BS Bioengineering ’21, PhD ’25, a former student-athlete in swimming and diving, led a recent nine-month study that assessed the load demands on volleyball players’ knees using wearable sensors for tracking load during practice, counter-movement jump testing, wearable and clinical ultrasound devices, MRIs, and surveys.

Erica King, right, works with a student-athlete. Photo by John Boal Photography. Photo by John Boal Photography

“At the end of the season, we were able to show the coaching staff the average number of jumps athletes complete in a 15- to 16-week period and the direct effects of that from a joint adaptation standpoint,” Jones says. “Now they can tailor practice sessions to better support the players and help alleviate strain that could lead to injury.”

Athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers often come to the lab with ideas and questions for study. Last spring, 911��’s swim team approached the lab to conduct a blood lactate study and applied for and received an Office of Student Creative Activities and Research grant to fund the study.

Researchers collected data from blood draws, heart-rate monitors, DEXA scans, and jump testing. An early review suggests a swimmer’s stroke specialization and maximal power generation capabilities significantly impact accumulation in blood lactate levels during all-out swim bouts.

“We couldn’t do what we do without the support and trust of the coaching staff,” says PhD student Noelle Saine, BS Kinesiology ’22, MS ’23. Saine, who was a student-athlete in track and field, understands the importance of strong communication between sport scientists and athletes.

“The sports management field as a whole is starting to ask how we can make good management decisions around athlete health and performance data,” says Chris Green, director of the Center for Sport Management. “The Patriot Performance Lab is already doing this work. It’s one of the things that makes us unique, and it’s what makes our work impactful.”

Helping Dancers Stay Ready for the Stage

Dancers are “aesthetic athletes,” meaning they have high workloads and high injury rates like traditional athletes. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

When Jena Hansen-Honeycutt, the athletic trainer for 911��’s School of Dance, started seeing an influx in injuries among dance students, she approached Professor of Kinesiology Jatin Ambegaonkar and then-student Kelley Wiese, PhD Kinesiology ’25, hoping to find a solution.

Dancers are “aesthetic athletes,” meaning they have high workloads and high injury rates like traditional athletes. “They dance for at least three hours a day in classroom practice alone,” says Hansen-Honeycutt. “And that doesn’t account for their extracurricular work: rehearsals, choreography, or additional practice.”

“We can recognize there’s a correlation between fatigue and injury, but you need data in order to make a stronger case for implementing cultural and systemic changes,” says Wiese.

Wiese, a trained dancer and now an assistant professor of athletic training at Shenandoah University, worked with Ambegaonkar on various studies at the intersection of kinesiology and dance during her doctoral program at 911��.

Dancers were given biosensors to wear on their wrists 24 hours a day for seven days. They repeated the study four times throughout the semester.

“We wanted to understand the cycles of the body breaking down and recovering as workload increased and decreased throughout their semester,” says Ambegaonkar.

Participating students were also given surveys to provide subjective perceptions of their workload, sleep habits, and energy levels.

Reviewing the data, Wiese found that at peak times throughout the semester, students were spending more than seven hours a day completing moderate to vigorous physical activity between class, rehearsals, practice, and choreographing. As a result, energy levels decreased and fatigue increased, indicating a need for integrated recovery times and programs.

Dancers were given biosensors to wear on their wrists 24 hours a day for seven days. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Another key finding from this study was the dissonance between students’ perceived sleep and the biosensor data. While students self-reported great and sufficient sleep, the biosensors reported insufficient sleep.

“Over time, insufficient sleep can lead to difficulty recovering and therefore higher rates of injury,” says Wiese, “particularly when [students are] already struggling to recover.”

As a result, the research team worked together to develop what Ambegaonkar calls “micro-interventions” through improved sleep health education programs. Hansen-Honeycutt has created sleep health resources for students to educate them on the impacts of good sleep on their academic and physical performance and is working with the faculty to incorporate this messaging into their classrooms.

“This study proved to me that us dance majors are extremely active, more than I often realize!” says Sanaa Fairley, BFA Dance ’26. “I learned that I could develop a much more consistent sleep schedule to set up my space, and therefore my mind, in a healthy way each day to prepare for rest.” Fairley says she has implemented other recovery techniques, such as cold showers, into her routine as well because of the study.

T’aja Williams, BFA Dance ’26, also reports she improved her sleep hygiene through a consistent bedtime. The study also made her more aware of how academic, socio-emotional, and physical activities impact her schedule and technology use.

Building good habits now helps George Mason dance students have long and fulfilling careers in dance. And Ambegaonkar and Wiese think this study might help pave the way for further research into the physical demands and impacts of dance.

“911�� is a pioneer in the field of dance medicine,” says Ambegaonkar. “We’re broadening the scope of what kinesiology is and what it can do in the public health domain.”

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Five Strategies to Fight Burnout

Katarina Benson — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:17:38 +0000

Five Strategies to Fight Burnout Katarina Benson Wed, 08/26/2026 - 12:17

More than three-quarters of health care workers report feeling stressed or stretched thin, with burnout contributing to problems like higher turnover and staffing shortages that can affect patient care. According to researchers at 911��’s College of Public Health, the fight against widespread burnout needs to begin with the training of future health care administrators.

Photo by Getty Images

Drawing from existing research and national frameworks on workforce well-being, Debora Goldberg, principal investigator and an associate professor in the Department of Health Administration and Policy, outlines several leadership strategies that can help counteract burnout.

1. Build workplaces where staff can speak up.

Health care leaders must create environments where employees can report mistakes, raise concerns, and discuss safety issues without fear of punishment. Clear reporting policies, open communication, and a culture of trust are key for psychological safety. 

2. Redesign jobs to reduce overload. 

Many health care roles involve long hours, heavy documentation, and clunky technology that add to daily stress. Leaders’ decisions about staffing, scheduling, and tools can either ease those pressures or make them worse. 

3. Prevent violence and protect staff safety. 

Health care workers face some of the highest rates of workplace violence of any profession. Leaders can help reduce risks by establishing zero-tolerance policies, training staff to de-escalate tense situations, and putting safety measures in place before incidents occur. 

4. Involve frontline staff in decisions. 

The people delivering care often know exactly where problems arise. When leaders directly involve nurses, physicians, and other staff in decisions about schedules, policies, and daily operations, the changes are more likely to succeed. 

5. Measure and improve workforce well-being.

Health care organizations routinely track patient outcomes and financial performance. Workforce well-being deserves the same attention. Leaders can measure burnout, engagement, and working conditions and use that data to steer improvements. 

911��’s John Cantiello and Riva Kamat from Lotus Clinician Well-Being are co-authors on the paper published in the Journal of Health Administration Education.

Global partnership advances injury detection research across skin tones

Heather Carroll — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:16:39 +0000

Global partnership advances injury detection research across skin tones Heather Carroll Wed, 08/26/2026 - 12:16

A new collaboration between 911��’s Injury Analytics Lab and Southern Africa Nazarene University in Eswatini will improve tools to document injuries in underrepresented populations locally and globally, while also strengthening research capacity in Eswatini.

In July, IAL Co-Directors Janusz Wojtusiak, David Lattanzi, and Katherine Scafide and Imaging Coordinator Emily Swann, a 911�� forensic science master’s student traveled to Eswatini to help launch the partnership with Southern Africa Nazarene University. Photo by Emily Swann.

If a bruise can’t be seen, it can’t be documented. If injuries can’t be documented, they can’t be treated or taken seriously in clinical or legal settings. Injuries that go undetected may be undertreated, misunderstood, or overlooked entirely, with real consequences for patients and survivors.

This challenge is at the center of a new international collaboration between 911��’s Injury Analytics Lab (IAL) and Southern Africa Nazarene University (SANU) in Eswatini. Through the Imaging of Naturally Occurring Skin Findings in Eswatini (INSIGHT-ES) project, researchers from both institutions are working to improve injury documentation while expanding research capacity in Eswatini. For years, the IAL has been focused on improving how injuries are detected, documented, and understood across diverse populations, and now the research is expanding globally.

Seeing Bruises

Bruises form beneath the surface of the skin. On individuals with darker skin tones, that can make bruising and similar injuries more difficult to see, and those injuries may also fade more quickly.

Bruises form beneath the surface of the skin, which can make them harder to detect on individuals with darker skin tones.
Image provided by Katherine Scafide.

Researchers at IAL have made significant progress in using alternative light sources to enhance the visibility of bruises across a range of skin tones. By combining computer imaging, artificial intelligence, and clinical data, the team is developing approaches that strengthen injury detection in both clinical and forensic environments.

“What we’re building is not just an AI-based tool, but a way to make injury documentation more consistent and accessible across settings, explains IAL Co-Director and Professor of Health Informatics Janusz Wojtusiak, who leads development of IAL’s injury platform and software systems. “By combining existing health information with advanced imaging, we can build intelligent systems that collaborate with people to improve both the quality of the injury assessments and how they can be used to support care.”

IAL Co-Director and Professor of Engineering David Lattanzi, adds, “The goal is a tool that is small, portable, and low-cost, making it easier to document injuries, particularly in remote or resource-constrained settings like those common in Eswatini or more rural areas of the U.S.” Lattanzi leads development of the lab’s computer vision systems and user-centered design.

Advancing the Science While Building Research Capacity

IAL Co-Directors Katherine Scafide, David Lattanzi, and Janusz Wojtusiak join SANU Vice Chancellor Faith Mlotsa-Mngomezulu for the opening of the new INSIGHT-ES research lab at Southern Africa Nazarene University.
Photo by Emily Swann.

Through the partnership with SANU, IAL's work is expanding globally to develop a richer dataset while building research capacity in a country where it is critically needed. “We’re excited to partner with SANU,” said IAL Co-Director and Associate Professor of Nursing Katherine Scafide, who leads the lab’s clinical research. “They will bring to the project much-needed expertise in operating within Eswatini as well as important data related to accidental and violence-related injuries on darker skin tones.”

SANU’s proximity to Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital provides a unique opportunity for data collection. Patients waiting to be seen may choose to participate in the study. That data will help improve future injury documentation on a range of different individuals and contribute to more equitable patient outcomes.

IAL Imaging Coordinator and 911�� forensic science master’s student Emily Swann shares her expertise in imaging with the Southern Africa Nazarene University research team during a visit to Eswatini in July.
Photo by David Lattanzi.

Those advances are especially important in Eswatini, where nearly half of women in (48.2%) have experienced physical or sexual violence during their lifetime (UN Development Program) and 41% of reported perpetrators are intimate partners of the survivor (Swatini Action Group Against Abuse). By comparison, the World Health Organization estimates that about one in three women globally have experienced physical and/or sexual violence during their lifetime. Improving the ability to identify and document injuries across a wider range of skin tones could strengthen both patient care and forensic documentation for survivors.

“This work comes at a critical time for Eswatini, which has the highest HIV prevalence in the world, with an estimated 25 percent of its adult population living with HIV,” said Kevin Mallinson, a former faculty member in the College of Public Health who is consulting on the project and has worked in the country for decades. “More than 90 percent of HIV care in the country is delivered by nurses, which makes it especially important to strengthen both clinical practice and research capacity within the nursing workforce.”

Building sustainable research capacity is a central goal of the partnership. IAL researchers are providing workshops, mentoring SANU faculty in grant writing and research development, and working alongside them as collaborators, with SANU investigators serving as co-investigators on the project. The team is also helping develop SANU's health informatics program, creating opportunities to strengthen research and innovation long after the current project is complete.

Bongani Sibandze, PhD Nursing ’18, serves as the dean of SANU’s Faculty of Health Sciences and is one of only a small number of PhD-prepared nurses in Eswatini. He will lead the collaboration, which he sees as closely aligned with SANU's strategic goals.

Sibonile Dlamini, a department head and lecturer at SANU, will oversee the project's daily operations. Both Sibandze and Dlamini describe the collaboration as a potential turning point for research in Eswatini—one that could elevate the country's standing in global academic circles and benefit the nation well beyond the two institutions involved.

Southern Africa Nazarene University research partners Bongani Sibandze, PhD Nursing ’18, and Sibonile Dlamini visited the School of Nursing and Injury Analytics Lab in February to prepare for the launch of the partnership between the two universities.
Photo by Danielle Hawkins.

Overcoming the logistical and infrastructural challenges of conducting this research in Eswatini will itself generate insights applicable on a global scale. Ultimately, this project could serve as a model for interdisciplinary, international research—bringing together nursing, engineering, artificial intelligence, and public health to address inequities in care.

About the Injury Analytics Lab

Launched in 2026, 911��’s IAL brings together researchers from clinical science, engineering, artificial intelligence and health informatics to advance ongoing research focused on injury detection, assessment, and documentation. The lab serves as a hub for interdisciplinary projects that build on years of research to improve patient care, investigations, and legal proceedings.

IAL is directed by an interdisciplinary team including Katherine Scafide (School of Nursing, College of Public Health [CPH]), who leads the lab’s clinical research; Janusz Wojtusiak (Department of Health Administration, Policy, and Informatics, CPH), who leads development of the injury platform and software systems; and David Lattanzi (Volgenau School of Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing), who leads development of the computer vision systems.

Key Takeaways

Bruises can be more difficult to see and may fade more quickly on darker skin tones, creating challenges for accurate injury documentation.
Injury Analytics Lab researchers are developing portable, affordable technology that combines advanced imaging, artificial intelligence, and clinical data to improve injury documentation in clinical, forensic, and resource-constrained settings.
Through a new international partnership, researchers from the Injury Analytics Lab and Southern Africa Nazarene University will expand injury detection research across darker skin tones while strengthening research capacity in Eswatini.

In This Story

Katherine Scafide, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAAFS

Janusz Wojtusiak, PhD

David Lattanzi

Topics

The Invisible Frontlines

Katarina Benson — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:15:40 +0000

The Invisible Frontlines Katarina Benson Wed, 08/26/2026 - 12:15

Nearly 12 million Americans provide unpaid dementia care for loved ones. Researchers at 911�� are building new models of support to help them cope, connect, and carry on.

For 12 years, Lily Liu cared for her mother, who had Parkinson's disease, in her Washington, D.C., apartment. She handled every meal, every bath, and every sleepless night as her mother’s Parkinson’s-related dementia advanced.

Photo by Getty Images

“I was doing it all by myself,” she says. 

Relief arrived through Mason Caregivers Aiming for Resilience, Empowerment, and Support (CARES), an evidence-based virtual support program developed by 911�� researchers to help family caregivers manage stress and burnout. Over nine weeks, caregivers participated in guided breathing exercises, journaling, and group discussions designed to build resilience and connection.

For Liu, the greatest benefit was the realization that other people understood what she was going through.

Researcher Megumi Inoue, a professor in the Department of Social Work who served as a co-investigator on the project, says that was the goal.

“They learn they’re not alone. There are people wearing the same shoes, so they can exchange information and experiences,” she says.

That support translated into measurable results. Using a standardized caregiver burden score that measures exhaustion and emotional strain, researchers found a 15 percent reduction in stress levels among participants.

“That’s a pretty big deal,” says Gilbert Gimm, associate professor of health administration and policy, who led the data analysis. “Even modest reductions mean relief.”

Across the country, nearly 12 million people provide unpaid care for relatives or friends living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Roughly 80 percent of that care takes place at home, a reality that has created mounting pressure on family members as the population ages. Researchers estimate that by 2040, 110 million people worldwide will be living with dementia.

College of Public Health researchers see this growing burden as both a caregiving crisis and a public health priority. 911�� is actively approaching improvements in health systems that advance science, develop talent, and strengthen communities. It’s all part of the university’s Grand Challenge Initiative and its Improving Human Health, Well-Being, and Preparedness solution.

Across disciplines, faculty are developing interventions designed to support caregivers through technology, community-building, and new models of training and care. Their work includes virtual support groups, music-based interventions, artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, and virtual reality (VR) simulations designed to deepen empathy and improve caregiving experiences.

The Invisible Backbone of Dementia Care

Catherine Tompkins. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“Caregiving is one of the most stressful roles imaginable,” says Catherine Tompkins, principal investigator of Mason CARES.

The toll caregiving takes on families is profound. Participants in the Mason CARES study entered the program with stress levels well above the threshold associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, and worsening physical health. In a separate analysis led by Inoue, nearly three-quarters of Alzheimer’s caregivers reported living with at least one chronic condition themselves.

Gimm believes the strain reflects a broader policy problem in the United States, where “aging in place” has become the preferred model for dementia care without a corresponding investment in caregiver support.

“The U.S. saves money by keeping more people at home,” he says, “but it’s on the backs of family caregivers. That’s not sustainable.”

According to Tompkins, for aging in place to succeed long term, caregivers need far more support than they currently receive. Family caregivers urgently need access to training, resources, programs, and respite, she says.

Turning Research into Relief

The pandemic reshaped how researchers approached that support. Mason CARES launched during the pandemic and was delivered entirely over Zoom, ultimately reaching 97 caregivers across the country—an unusually large sample for dementia research.

Historically, Tompkins explains, many caregivers struggled to attend in-person programming because they could not leave their loved ones alone. Virtual delivery unexpectedly removed that barrier.

“We ended up with people from all over—Texas, Louisiana, Northern Virginia,” she says.

Some of the most meaningful interventions are also among the simplest. Within Mason CARES, researchers incorporated elements of Music and Memory, a national program that uses personalized music playlists to help people with dementia reconnect with memories.

Research has long shown that familiar music can prompt moments of recognition, speech, movement, and joy in people living with dementia. 911�� researchers wanted to understand how those moments also affect caregivers.

“The idea is that if the person living with dementia is happy, it can reduce resistance, and caregiving becomes more positive,” Inoue says.

Researchers found that caregivers used the technology in very different ways. Some never found time to use the MP3 players they received, while others discovered deeply meaningful moments of connection. One caregiver told researchers that listening to a song from her wedding helped briefly restore a sense of partnership with her husband after dementia had left him emotionally distant.

In a follow-up study, Inoue and Tompkins are now examining those types of nuances to understand what made the program effective and where it fell short. 

For some Mason CARES participants, the relationships built through the program outlasted the research itself. Liu’s support group continued meeting even after the program ended.

“Five of us kept it going,” says Liu, whose mother passed away two years ago. “We’ve seen each other through loss and grief. This program built a sense of community, and that meant a lot for our little group.”

Technology Designed for Human Connection

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

As caregiving demands increase nationwide, 911�� researchers are exploring how technology can create more accessible, culturally responsive, and personalized support.

With a $3 million grant from the National Institute on Aging, health administration and policy researcher Y. Alicia Hong is refining Wellness Enhancement for Caregivers (WECARE), an AI-enhanced digital intervention for dementia caregivers.

The seven-week platform combines multimedia education, quiz games, social networking, personalized feedback, and tailored caregiving resources. The goal is to create technology that feels responsive to caregivers’ daily realities.

“WECARE is one of the first personalized digital interventions for dementia caregivers,” says Hong. "Though it is designed for Chinese American dementia caregivers, it can be adapted for other groups and serve the growing demand for digital support for dementia caregivers in an aging society.”

Another 911�� researcher, School of Nursing Professor Kyeung Mi Oh, is using AI to help families reconnect through storytelling and memory.

Oh is serving as co-principal investigator on a $2.9 million National Institute on Aging grant to refine the LifeBio Memory app, an AI-powered storytelling platform that helps older adults capture memories and share them with caregivers and family members.

The project builds on reminiscence therapy, an approach that uses personal memories to strengthen mood, cognition, and social connection for people experiencing memory loss.

“We want to see how storytelling technology can improve quality of life and relationships for both the older adult and the caregiver,” says Oh. “When people talk about their past, they often smile. It strengthens social support and emotional closeness.” 

Over the next three years, Oh’s team—including co-principal investigator Lisbeth Sanders, founder and CEO of LifeBio—is conducting usability testing followed by a randomized controlled trial with 84 caregiver–care recipient pairs.

Earlier versions of the app used in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities showed greater engagement and fewer symptoms of depression among residents. The new phase of research brings the technology into homes and community settings while expanding it into English, Spanish, and Korean.

Researchers hope the platform can eventually become a scalable and affordable support tool for families caring for loved ones at home. “We’re working to make LifeBio Memory accessible for people of different languages and cultural backgrounds, so older adults can tell their life stories in their own voices,” says Oh.

Building Empathy Through Virtual Reality

For 911�� researcher Li-Mei Chen, the potential of virtual reality (VR) became clear the moment she experienced a dementia simulation developed in Japan. At a conference on aging, Chen put on a VR headset and suddenly found herself inside the perspective of a person living with dementia.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The simulation cast her as an older adult experiencing confusion and delusion, frozen in fear at the end of a hallway as the floor appeared to disappear beneath rising floodwaters. “There was no actual flooding,” Chen recalls, “but I could feel the panic.”

Chen, who teaches in the Department of Social Work, immediately saw how the technology could transform dementia training for professional caregivers.

Working with Japanese company Jolly Good, and with support from the Virginia Center on Aging, Chen launched a pilot program for certified nursing assistants at a Northern Virginia nursing home. The training combined immersive VR experiences with online lessons and group discussion.

The VR scenarios, adapted for English-speaking audiences using AI-generated voiceovers, allowed participants to experience the confusion, fear, and sensory disorientation often associated with dementia. For many participants, it was their first dementia-specific training.

Beyond improving patient care, the researchers hope the project can also support workers in a field marked by high turnover, low wages, and emotional exhaustion.

Both Inoue and Chen bring a global perspective to their work, shaped by their years of studying aging and dementia care in Japan, where nearly one in three citizens is over 65. 

“In Japan, dementia is seen as a community issue, not just a family one,” says Chen. She points to dementia-friendly neighborhood cafés, school-based dementia education, and trained community volunteers as examples of a more collective approach to care.

Chen emphasizes that VR is not as a replacement for human caregiving; it’s a tool for building empathy and strengthening relationships between caregivers and the people they support.

“It’s about understanding the person and building a connection that’s beyond client and provider,” Chen says.

Mary Cunningham, Katie Pearce, and Taylor Thomas contributed to this feature.

This research supports the Grand Challenge Initiative's goal of improving human health, well-being, and preparedness.

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