Health Research Center

Behavioral Studies

Current and Recently Completed Projects:

Title: Evaluating Childhood Obesity Components
of West Virginia House Bill 2816.

Agency: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Dates: 2007 - 2009

Evaluation Leaders: Carole V. Harris, Ph.D. and
Andrew S. Bradlyn, Ph.D.

Project Partners: Prevention Research Center, WV Department of Education,
Office of Healthy Schools, WV Bureau for Public Health, Office of Child Nurtrition,
Office of Healthy Lifestyles, CARDIAC

Objective: To conduct a comprehensive assessment of the process, impact, and outcomes associated with WV House Bill 2816, also known as the Healthy Lifestyles Act. This legislation includes a series of school-based mandates regarding physical education, health education, fitness assessments, healthy beverages, and BMI assessments designed to impact childhood obesity.

Title:  "Dyslipidemia Detection for WV Families"

Agency:  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
(National Institutes of Health)

Award#: 1RO1HL070120-01A1
Dates: 2004-2008

PI:  Carole V. Harris, Ph.D.
Co-I: Andrew S. Bradlyn, Ph.D.
Co-I: William Neal, M.D.

Objective:  To develop a community-tailored model to
increase participation in a school-based cardiovascular
screening program for 5th graders and their families. 

Title:  "Health Promotion for West Virginia Preschoolers and Their Families"

Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Award #:   H75/CCCH322130-01
Dates:       2002-2005

PI: Carole V. Harris, Ph.D.
Co-PI: Andrew S. Bradlyn, Ph.D.
Co-I:  William Neal, M.D.
Co-I:  Rachel Yeater, Ph.D.

Objective:  To develop a culturally-sensitive, family-based health promotion program for preschool children and their families.  This project was conducted in Headstart Centers and public preschool settings in four rural West Virginia counties. 

Title:    "Health-Related Quality of Life for Pediatric NF1 Patients"

Agency: Department of Defense

Award #:   NF010064
Dates:       2002 - 2005

PI: Andrew S. Bradlyn, Ph.D
Co-I: Carole V. Harris, Ph.D

Objective: To develop an NF1-specific health-related quality of life questionnaire for children.  This questionnaire will be based on information from patients, parents, teachers, and health care professionals.  This disease-specific measure will improve the ability to understand the impact of NF1 and its treatment, which will be important when planning future treatments for NF1.