From developing new approaches to treating disease to helping people stay active and healthy throughout their lives, research plays an important role in improving health and well-being.
To expand that work and create more opportunities for collaboration, the Office of Research at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences has launched three new research centers, growing opportunities for interdisciplinary research and impact, and named directors for two of them.
The centers will bring together faculty, students and researchers from multiple disciplines to address real-world health challenges, advance scientific discovery and translate new knowledge into better care for patients and communities.
The three strategic focus areas are the:
- Applied Analytics and Innovation Center
- Clinical and Translational Science Center
- Health and Human Performance Center
Clinical and Translational Science Center
LiLian Yuan, PhD, will serve as interim director of the Clinical and Translational Science Center, with Elitsa Ananieva, PhD, serving as co-director. Yuan’s research focuses on how the brain regulates motivation to exercise and how physical activity benefits brain health, while Ananieva’s work focuses on the intersection of cancer metabolism, tumor immunity and immunotherapy.
The center will bring together researchers across cancer biology, neuroscience, rehabilitation and public health to address major health challenges. Faculty also are investigating questions that may ultimately lead to improved approaches to understanding, preventing and treating disease.
“My hope is that the center will connect basic science discoveries with clinical and community research to improve health,” Yuan says. “We want to build a stronger research culture at DMU by helping faculty and students from different disciplines work together on questions that matter to patients and communities.”
Likewise, Ananieva hopes the center’s work will help Iowans live healthier lives by addressing some of the state’s most pressing health challenges.
“Iowa experiences higher rates of certain diseases, including cancer, compared with national averages, and there is a significant need for innovative research and effective interventions to improve health outcomes,” she says. “The Clinical and Translational Science Center has the potential to create meaningful collaborations. By bringing together diverse expertise and resources, the center can accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into practical solutions that improve patient care and public health.”
Health and Human Performance Center
The Health and Human Performance Center advances research in human movement, musculoskeletal health, rehabilitation, anatomy, wellness and functional performance.
Shane McClinton, PT, DPT, PhD, has been named director of the center. A 2007 graduate of DMU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, McClinton’s research focuses on analyzing characteristics of individuals with musculoskeletal disorders and the outcomes of physical therapy interventions.
“The Health and Human Performance Center can bring together expertise from multiple disciplines, and I see tremendous value in fostering connections that make research more efficient, collaborative and impactful,” he says.
The center is positioned to contribute across a broad spectrum of health and human performance, from helping older adults improve their health and function to reducing injury risk and enhancing performance among athletes and physically active populations.
At the same time, the center’s interdisciplinary scope includes basic and translational science, which can deepen understanding of human movement, musculoskeletal health, physiology, neuroscience, recovery and adaptation.
“Over time, these discoveries may inform clinical practice, rehabilitation strategies, preventive health initiatives and future research,” McClinton says. “This will ultimately support healthier, more functional and more resilient communities.”
McClinton anticipates opportunities for faculty and student researchers to collaborate on projects examining physical function, injury prevention, recovery, healthy aging and technology-enhanced approaches to health and movement assessment and monitoring.
Applied Analytics and Innovation Center
Pravin Mishra, PhD, MBA, chief research officer, will serve as interim director of the Applied Analytics and Innovation Center. DMU plans to conduct a national search for the center’s director.
The center will focus on artificial intelligence, data science, digital health and emerging technologies to accelerate research, enhance education and drive health care innovation. It will create opportunities for faculty, students and collaborators to apply advanced analytics and emerging technologies to research questions and real-world challenges across health and medicine.
“Artificial intelligence, data science and emerging technologies are creating new opportunities across research, education and health care,” Mishra says. “The Applied Analytics and Innovation Center will bring together expertise from across DMU to explore these opportunities responsibly, foster interdisciplinary collaboration and translate innovative ideas into meaningful research and health impact.”
For more information on the Office of Research and the three centers, visit dmu.edu/research.