Category: Notes on Innovation and Research

 

There are few phrases more familiar- or feared -by those of us in higher education than publish or perish. Our professional success is often built on a sustained track record of high-impact, peer-reviewed, published scholarship (in addition to excellent teaching of course). And as nurse scientists, our scholarship is rooted in service—to our patients, our communities, and our broader mission to improve the health of all. That’s why the NIH’s updated Public Access Policy, NOT-OD-25-048, matters more than ever. Starting July 1, 2025, all NIH-funded peer-reviewed publications must be freely available to the public upon publication. No delays. No embargoes. No excuses.

What’s New?

The NIH now requires that your Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM)—the version of your article that’s been peer-reviewed and accepted—be deposited in PubMed Central (PMC) and made accessible to the interested public immediately. This ensures that the knowledge we generate through our research reaches the people who need it most: nurses, healthcare providers, patients, caregivers, advocates, and community health leaders.

What’s an AAM?

It’s the version of your manuscript that includes all revisions, figures, and supplemental materials, but not the publisher’s final formatted PDF—unless it’s published open access with a license that allows reuse (often called Gold Access now).

What Costs Are Allowed?

NIH will cover Article Processing Charges (APCs) for open access publishing, as long as they’re reasonable and tied to a publicly available product. However, fees for peer review services or depositing your AAM in PMC (which is free) are not allowable. For details, see the NIH’s explanation in NOT-OD-25-048.

If a publisher tries to charge you a “NIH compliance fee,” all investigators can confidently say, “That’s unallowable under 2 CFR 200.403(c).”

What Do Publishers and Institutions Say?

• Lippincott (LWW) provides guidance and may offer APC discounts through institutional agreements. See their NIH open access policy here.
• University of California outlines compliance steps and support here.
• University of Florida provides a searchable list of journal policies here.
• University of Virginia offers a practical guide for NIH open access compliance here.
• University of Washington has a help guide and outlines the university’s support for some Article Processing Fees here.

Tips for University of Washington School of Nursing Investigators

• Use My NCBI to track your publications and ensure compliance.
• Include your PMCID or NIHMSID in biosketches and progress reports.
• Use and Regularly Update your ScienCV
• Protect your rights with a copyright addendum when signing publisher agreements.
• Partner with our UW library colleagues—they’re great allies in navigating open access and compliance.

Why This Matters for Nursing

Nursing research often addresses real-world health challenges that center our most vulnerable citizens—chronic disease management, health equity, symptom science, and patient-centered interventions. Making our findings immediately accessible means frontline nurses, community health workers, and patients themselves can more quickly benefit from the evidence we work so hard generate. This new policy is not just about compliance—it’s about real-life impact.

Final Thoughts

This policy shift is a call to action and it will help to make our science open, accessible, and actionable. By embracing public access, we’re not just meeting NIH requirements—we’re advancing the health of the communities we serve. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Office for Nursing Research & Innovation as we navigate these new opportunities together.

 

 

 

 

 

Disclosure: Allison Webel also serves as Editor in Chief of the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care published by Lippincott publishing who had no part in developing this article.

You’ll always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

While I am certainly not a hockey player, I am a child of the 90’s and like many households in my generation, my parents had motivational art in their office. On my dad’s desk was a little statue of a basketball that said “you’ll always miss 100% of the shots you don’t make”. In hindsight, seeing that empowering message every day influenced my approach to my own work in myriad ways. Submitting grant proposals is hard, time consuming and deliberate work, with the peer review process often feeling capricious. However, a strategy many investigators – including myself – have adopted to increase our chance of funding is to submit many grants a year; in other words taking as many shots as we can.

That strategy must now change. Amongst the flurry of new announcements from the National Institutes of Health recently released, one stood out that may impact our UW School of Nursing scholars broadly. In a significant shift, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will limit the number of grant applications a Principal Investigator (PI) can submit each year. Effective September 25, 2025, each PI—whether applying solo or as part of a multiple PI team—will be limited to six new, renewal, resubmission, or revision applications per calendar year.

Why the Change?

The NIH frames this policy shift as a move to protect the integrity of the peer review process, and to ensure a level playing field. The surge in high-volume submissions, perhaps aided by AI tools, has created an imbalance among investigators. The new cap is designed to encourage thoughtful, high-quality proposals rather than a quantity-driven approach.

What’s Included—and What’s Not

The six-application limit applies to all standard NIH research grant mechanisms, including new submissions, renewals, resubmissions, and revisions. It covers both single and multiple PI applications. However, T-series training grants and R13 conference grant applications are exempt from the cap

Importantly, the policy is not retroactive. Applications submitted before September 25, 2025, will not count toward the 2025 total. The full-year cap will apply starting January 1, 2026.

Implications for UW School of Nursing Investigators

For most investigators, this change may have little practical impact. But for those who have relied on a high-volume strategy—submitting numerous variations of similar ideas, designs and methods across multiple institutes—this is a major shift. It will require a different approach to strategic planning, prioritization.

What Should PIs Do Now?

1. Review your submission plans: Review your pipeline for 2026 and beyond and ensure you’re not exceeding the submission cap.
2. Focus on quality: With fewer chances to submit, each application must be strong, original, and responsive to the funding opportunity.
3. Use Artificial Intelligence wisely: It is clear from the announcement that NIH is watching for use of AI. Applications “substantially developed” by AI may be deemed non-compliant and could trigger misconduct investigations.
4. Coordinate with collaborators: Multiple PI applications count toward each PI’s total, so communication is key.

This policy shift is an opportunity for investigators to think deeply and submit NIH grant proposals with purpose and demonstrable value for the health of all.  There’s another Gretzky quote that feels applicable to this shift, “a good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.” As we navigate this changing research funding climate, we must proceed strategically, thinking about not only where we are currently, but where we want to be. Please feel free to reach out the Office for Nursing Research & Innovation if you have any questions about this change. We’re here to help support your scholarship at each stage of the research lifecycle.

In higher education these days, it’s not very often we get to give money away – even to the most impactful and innovative projects. But, thanks to the generous support of our longstanding and generous donors (and our incredible peer reviewers), this past spring the University of Washington Office for Nursing Research & Innovation was able to award $100,000 to four rigorous research projects from UW School of Nursing investigators.  

The Research Intramural Funding Program (RIFP) is designed to enhance the research environment within the School of Nursing by providing faculty with seed funding to initiate innovative studies and collect pilot data that will lead to advancements in our understanding of clinically relevant issues. These foundational efforts aim to support future applications for extramural funding and foster a culture of scholarly excellence within the UW School of Nursing.

We are proud to recognize the 2025 RIFP Awardees for their visionary projects:

 

Maria Bleil, PhD, Associate Professor, Child, Family and Population Health Nursing
Research Study: Does exposure to air pollution accelerate pubertal development in girls?
Supported by: Suzanne E. VanHooser Endowed Nursing Research Fund

 

 

 

 

Omeid Heidari, PhD, MPH, ANP-C, Assistant Professor, Child, Family and Population Health Nursing
Research Study: Development of a nurse-led implementation strategy to reach individuals at high risk of an opioid overdose with high-quality treatment services
Supported by: Dean’s Nursing Research Fund

 

 

 

 

Jerusha Mogaka, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics
Research Study: Monitoring biomarkers of metabolic health among mother-infant pairs using novel dried blood spot assays
Supported by: Suzanne E. VanHooser Endowed Nursing Research Fund

 

 

 

 

M. Rebecca O’Connor, PhD, RN, Associate Professor, Child, Family and Population Health Nursing
Research Study: Rapid Redesign of IBIAS™ Implementation to Support Adoption in an Evolving Higher Education Climate
Supported by: Troop Endowed Nursing Research Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we celebrate and look forward to supporting these outstanding scholars, we’re equally eager to explore the insights emerging from the recently concluded RIFPs. We invite you to join us throughout the academic year for our ONR&I Lunch and Learn series—where members of our vibrant research community will share their findings, discuss their impact, and chart the path forward for research that improves the health and well-being of Washingtonians and beyond.

There is a resonant rhythm to life in higher education—one that I’ve always cherished. Fall arrives full of energy in the air, as campuses come alive with the excitement of new beginnings: New Student Convocation, homecoming festivities, and the roar of our Husky community cheering on our football, soccer, and volleyball teams. Winter settles in with its short, dark days, where classrooms glow with learning and late-night study sessions are fueled by hot drinks with friends. Then comes the whirlwind of spring, a season of transformation as students wrap up final projects, dream about the future, and walk across the stage at their commencement ceremonies. Amid this joyful, fast-paced academic cycle, we often lose the quiet moments needed to reflect on, prepare, and write about the science we’re so passionate about.

For faculty who have summer salary, the summer months offer an opportunity for them to step back from the academic year’s hustle and invest in the long-term growth of their research programs. Whether you’re an early-career investigator or an established scholar, the following ten strategies can help you make the most of the summer months and return in the fall with renewed scholarly momentum.

1. Invest in Research Training

Summer is an ideal time to hone your research skills or explore new methodologies. We post internal and external training opportunities in our Weekly Research Roundup and encourage you to enroll in workshops, webinars, or online courses that align with your research goals. In addition, this can be a great time to update required research trainings, including Good Clinical Practice, Financial Conflicts of Interest, Grants Management for Investigators, and Research Security Training. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions about these trainings that are required for all funded UW School of Nursing principal investigators.

2. Update Your SciENcv

Planning to apply for federal research funding? Now’s a great time to create or update your SciENcv—a streamlined, electronic CV system used by agencies like NIH and NSF (distinct in purpose and form from Interfolio). It saves you from re-entering the same info for every grant or report, and a polished profile not only preps you for future applications but also helps you track your professional growth.

 

3. Articulate Your Impact

Potential investors and collaborators want to know the “so what” of your work. Use the summer to reflect and craft a compelling narrative about the significance of your program of research on the lives of our community members. What problems are you solving? Who benefits from your findings? A clear, concise impact statement can strengthen proposals, publications, and public-facing materials.

 

4. Set Up Your Workday PI Dashboard

Stay on top of your research grant spending with ease by getting familiar with the PI dashboard in Workday. This powerful tool helps you track your grants, gifts, deadlines, sponsored staff, and budget projections—all in one place. The dashboard offers a clear snapshot of your research portfolio expenses and lets you drill down into the details that matter most.

 

 

 

5. Stay Informed on Open PAs, RFAs, and Policy Changes

Keep an eye on open Program Announcements (PAs), Requests for Applications (RFAs), and any changes in funding agency language or priorities. Sign up for, and review, the UW School of Nursing Weekly Research Roundup for new grant opportunities, subscribe to newsletters from major funders in your field, and set alerts for keywords relevant to your field. When you’re tuned into the next opportunity early, you will be better prepared to submit a successful proposal.

 

6. Plan for Fall Grant Deadlines

Many major grant deadlines fall in the early fall (e.g., NIH, RRF, RIFP). Use the summer to map out your submission calendar, gather materials, and begin drafting. Early planning reduces last-minute stress and improves the quality of your proposals. Remember to submit your planned proposals to the ONR&I Grant Proposal Intake Form as soon as possible!

 

 

 

 

7. Draft a One-Pager on Your Next Research Step

Clarify your vision by writing a one-page summary of your next big research or scholarly program idea. This exercise helps you distill your goals, identify gaps, and communicate your plan to mentors, collaborators, and funders. It can also serve as a foundation for diversifying future proposals.

 

8. Stay Connected to ONR&I

The UW School of Nursing Office of Research and Innovation (ONR&I) is a valuable resource throughout the year. Reach out to learn about internal funding, proposal development support, and strategic initiatives. Building a relationship with ONR&I can help you navigate the research landscape more effectively.

 

9. Explore International Research Opportunities

Global collaboration can open new avenues for funding and innovation. As the federal government updates their policies on funding global collaboration, use the summer to identify potential international partners, understand relevant regulations, and explore funding mechanisms that support cross-border research.

 

 

 

10. Read Widely and Voraciously

Finally, make time to read beyond your area of scholarly expertise. Reading broadly can inspire new ideas, uncover emerging trends, and spur interdisciplinary connections. Whether it’s journal articles, white papers, lay articles, books, or poetry, reading is a powerful way to nourish your intellectual curiosity.

By engaging with some or all of these ten strategies, faculty can use the summer not just to recharge, but to strategically advance your program of research. The quieter months offer a chance to reflect, recalibrate, and invest in your research goals—so that when the academic year resumes, you’re not just prepared for the new academic year, you’re ahead

Across multiple settings and throughout history, established norms tend to be pretty closely adhered to – perhaps nowhere more so than higher education. I’d venture a wager that there is not a nurse alive who has not had a supervisor, instructor or mentor in the clinical setting tell them “that’s just the way we do it.” While norms serve valuable societal functions, they often limit ingenuity, innovation and, ultimately, progress. 

On May 21, 2025, the hallowed halls of the Smith Room at the University of Washington’s Suzzallo Library buzzed with energy as nurses, students, researchers, and community members gathered for the inaugural Voices in Nursing Innovation: A Fireside Chat. Hosted by the UW School of Nursing’s Digital Health Innovation Hub and the Office for Nursing Research & Innovation, this event marked the beginning of a quarterly series designed to spotlight nurse-led innovation and its transformative potential in healthcare.

The heart of the event was an intimate and inspiring conversation between Dr. Oleg Zaslavsky, Director of the Digital Health Innovation Hub and Aljoya Endowed Professor in Aging, and Dr. Elena Bosque, a seasoned neonatal nurse practitioner at Seattle Children’s Hospital and award-winning inventor. Their conversation offered a rare glimpse into the personal and professional journey of a nurse innovator.

Dr. Bosque, who has spent four decades blending academic and clinical practice, shared how her early experiences helped to shape her path. From her beginnings as a BSN student at the University of San Francisco to earning her PhD at UCSF, she spoke candidly about the adventures and misadventures spanning her career as an innovator. During her time as a PhD student, her passion for improving neonatal care led her to develop a prototype alarm system for pulse oximeters using fuzzy logic—an early example of her commitment to combining clinical nursing expertise with technological innovation that improves the lives of our most vulnerable patients.

When asked what inspired her to invent, Dr. Bosque credited both necessity and intuition. “Nurses are content experts,” she explained. “We see the problems firsthand every single day. That gives us a unique – and highly valuable- perspective that can enable us to create elegant, effective solutions.”

Throughout the discussion, Dr. Zaslavsky guided the conversation, drawing out insights that resonated deeply with the audience. He emphasized the importance of iteration in the innovation process, noting how Dr. Bosque’s multiple patents reflected a commitment to continuous improvement. “Innovation isn’t a one-and-done,” he said. “It’s a journey of learning, testing, and evolving.”

One of the most memorable and quietly powerful moments of the evening came when Dr. Bosque was asked what advice she would offer to future nurse innovators and entrepreneurs. Rather than providing a list of tips or strategies, she shared a story—simple, personal, and revealing. She recalled a moment from her undergraduate years, during the high-stress final exam period. Her roommate, seemingly unfazed, was curled up with a novel—reading for pleasure. Dr. Bosque, focused on the academic grind, challenged her: “But we don’t do that,” she said, echoing the established norm that finals week was for studying, not reading for pleasure. Her roommate looked up and replied, gently but firmly, “Of course we do.”

That moment stayed with her. It was more than a comment—it was a quiet rebellion against the idea that discipline and creativity must be at odds. It was a reminder that innovation doesn’t come from following the rules—it comes from questioning them. If ever there was a call to action for nurses to dream, to create, and to innovate, that was it.

Whether by choice, curiosity, or necessity, nurses have always been—and always will be—the best innovators.

In support of their work, and inspired by Hewlett-Packard’s “Rules of the Garage,” the vision of the UW Digital Health Innovation Hub is to dismantle barriers to innovation like bureaucracy, isolation, and self-doubt that often hinder nurses from scaling their innovations. As attendees mingled afterward, many expressed excitement about engaging with the Digital Health Innovation Hub and the promise of nurse-led innovation and entrepreneurship. With a focus on equity, evidence, and empowerment, the University of Washington Digital Health Innovation Hub is poised to become a national leader in transforming healthcare through nursing research and innovation.

The UW School of Nursing Voices in Nursing Innovation fireside chat series has officially launched—and if this first event is any indication, the future is bright, bold, and nurse-led.

In a significant shift aimed at improving fairness, clarity, and scientific focus in peer review, the NIH rolled out its Simplified Review Framework (SRF) for most research project grants submitted on or after January 25, 2025. This shift is the result of years of community input, advisory council deliberations, and pilot testing. For our UW School of Nursing applicants, understanding what’s changed—and what your reviewers are now being asked to prioritize—is essential to crafting a competitive research proposal.

Why did the NIH make this change?

The Simplified Review Framework was designed to address prominent concerns in the peer review process. These included:

• Overemphasis on technical minutiae in the research approach.
• Inadequate attention to significance and innovation.
• Bias toward well-known investigators and institutions, which may have disadvantaged new or less-established applicants.
• Review fatigue from administrative and compliance-related distractions.

By streamlining the criteria and refocusing the reviewers’ attention on core scientific questions (see below), the NIH hopes they will be able to to better identify high-impact research that improves the health of all Americans.

Focus on the Three Core Factors

Previously, NIH reviewers scored applications based on five criteria: Significance, Investigator(s), Innovation, Approach, and Environment. Under the Simplified Review Framework, these have been consolidated into three core factors:

1. Importance of the Research – Should this research be done? If so, why?
2. Rigor and Feasibility – Can it be done well? If so, How?
3. Expertise and Resources – Are the right people and tools in place to do it?

Each of the first two factors is scored on a 1–9 scale. The third is evaluated as either “appropriate” or “additional expertise/resources needed,” with comments required only if gaps are identified.

What This Means for Applicants

Make the Case for Importance

The first and arguably most critical question reviewers will ask is: Should this research be done and why? Applicants must clearly articulate the scientific importance of their work—not just its relevance to public health. This means:

• Framing the research question in a compelling way.
• Demonstrating how the work addresses a significant gap in knowledge.
• Avoiding jargon and making the case accessible to a broad scientific audience.

A clear, persuasive rationale for the study’s importance can set the tone for the entire review.

2. Demonstrate Rigor Without Getting Lost in the Weeds

Reviewers are being encouraged to avoid nitpicking and instead focus on whether the proposed approach is rigorous and feasible. Applicants should:

• Present a well-structured, logical plan.
• Anticipate potential challenges and describe how they’ll be addressed.
• Emphasize methodological soundness without overwhelming the reader with excessive detail.

The goal is to instill confidence that the research can be executed effectively, even if every contingency isn’t fully mapped out.

3. Show That the Team and Resources Are Ready

The third factor—Expertise and Resources—is no longer numerically scored, but it still matters. Reviewers will flag weaknesses only when they’re significant. Applicants should:

• Clearly describe the qualifications of the team as they relate to the project.
• Highlight access to necessary facilities, equipment, and institutional support.
• Avoid over-relying on reputation; focus on relevance and readiness.

This change is designed to reduce reputational bias and level the playing field for newer investigators and institutions.

Additional Considerations: Less Is More

The Simplified Review Framework also reduces the burden of additional review criteria. While issues like human subjects protections use can still affect the overall impact score, others—such as budget and resource authentication—no longer do. This allows reviewers to stay focused on their science.

Final Thoughts

The NIH’s Simplified Review Framework represents a cultural shift in how grant applications are evaluated. For all of our investigators, the message is clear: focus on the science. Make a strong case for why your research matters to science and people, show that it can be done well, and demonstrate that your team is the best equipped to do it. By aligning your application with these priorities, you’ll be better positioned to succeed in this new era of NIH peer review. Please remember that the Office for Nursing Research & Innovation is available to partner with you as design and write (and re-write) your proposals. Feel free to reach out to us at any time to assist you in your grant writing journey.

 

Curiosity is inherent to humanity. Indeed, it is curiosity about others – their ailment, their treatment, and particularly their lives outside of the healthcare setting – that draws many of us to nursing. Yet, aspects of professional nurse training can often make it seem that the nursing profession, and the settings in which we work and learn, do not value this essential curiosity.

I did not pursue nursing school to become a nurse scientist; however, during a two-year experience as an undergraduate honors student, I learned to love the process, potential, and discipline of research. Under the dedicated mentorship of my advisors (most of whom are still dear colleagues and friends), I learned how to ask a discrete research question that would improve the health of patients living with heart failure; create a survey to collect data; analyze that data; and transform numbers on a symptom scale to clear recommendations for improving nursing care. While most of my cohort of undergraduate honors students did not go on to pursue scientific careers, undoubtedly, they learned how our practice can, and should be, guided by high-quality, rigorous, patient-centered evidence.

Each year, approximately one dozen of the UW School of Nursing senior class students elect to participate in a year-long honors research program. They engage in a weekly seminar and work in nurse-led research laboratories where they contribute to a variety of research activities – all tailored to their unique academic interests. This work culminates in a public presentation of their year’s work at the University of Washington Undergraduate Research Symposium.

This event was most recently held on Friday, May 16, 2025, where 16 senior honors nursing students presented 11 posters alongside more than 1,000 other graduating seniors. On this joyful occasion, I spoke with a few of these graduating seniors to learn how their yearlong research immersion impacted their time at the University of Washington.

Janna Putnam embarked on a timely research project under the mentorship of Dr. Omeid Heidari, exploring how social media shapes dietary habits. Her study, Curating Diets: A Thematic Analysis of Eating Behaviors in “What I Eat in a Day” TikToks, delved into the subtle yet powerful ways digital content influences food choices and perceptions of health.

What made Janna’s journey notable was the independence she was encouraged to take on from the very beginning. Dr. Heidari challenged her to design and lead a completely new research project—an ambitious task for someone new to qualitative methods. Learning how to connect thematic analysis to broader research aims was no small feat, but Janna rose to the challenge with determination and curiosity.

Through this process, she not only developed a strong foundation in qualitative research but also deepened her understanding of the intersection between media, behavior, and health. Reflecting on the experience, Janna shared:

The [important] role of research in healthcare sparked a stronger interest in evidence-based practice. It also reinforced my goal of becoming a nurse who actively integrates research into clinical decision-making.

Janna’s work highlights the growing relevance of digital literacy in healthcare and the importance of equipping future nurses with the tools to critically evaluate the media-driven narratives that shape patient behaviors and expectations.

Jun Heo undertook a powerful and emotionally resonant qualitative research project under the mentorship of Dr. Anita Souza, exploring the differences in healthcare access, social integration, and aging-related needs between older veterans and non-veterans living in permanent supportive housing. Jun describes the experience as “tough, but inspiring”—a phrase that captures both the emotional weight and transformative nature of the work.

Interviewing older adults with histories of chronic homelessness presented unique challenges. Many participants shared stories marked by trauma, isolation, and deep-rooted distrust in systems meant to support them. Navigating these conversations required not only sensitivity, but also a commitment to ethical and trauma-informed research practices. Jun and Dr. Souza grounded their approach in trauma-informed interviewing, engaged in regular debriefing sessions, and maintained reflexivity through detailed field notes—ensuring that participants’ voices were honored with care and respect.

This experience profoundly shaped Jun’s understanding of what it means to provide care. Listening to how housing instability, system navigation, and long-term marginalization impacted participants’ well-being shifted their perspective from bedside care to a broader, structural view of health. Some participants even described the interviews as therapeutic—an unexpected reminder of the healing power of being heard.

Reflecting on the experience, Jun shared:

I now see myself working not just at the bedside but also in roles that address structural determinants of health, especially in gerontology, trauma-informed care, and housing-based healthcare solutions for older adults.

Jun’s journey illustrates how research can be a catalyst for empathy, advocacy, and a reimagined vision of nursing—one that bridges clinical care with social justice and systems change.

Antonia Cai made a meaningful contribution to the ongoing PROSPER-HIV study, which explores how physical activity and diet quality influence symptom experiences among older adults living with HIV. Under the guidance of Dr. Vitor Oliveira, Antonia conducted a secondary data analysis examining how lifestyle factors—such as daily step count, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and diet quality (measured by the Healthy Eating Index)—correlate with symptom burden in this population.

One of the most significant challenges Antonia faced was navigating complex statistical methods with limited prior experience in quantitative research. Learning to interpret regression analyses and control for covariates like age and sex initially felt daunting. However, with Dr. Oliveira’s mentorship—including a tailored data analysis workshop and hands-on practice with statistical software—Antonia steadily built her confidence and competence.

Despite the steep learning curve, Antonia emerged from the experience with strengthened analytical thinking, enhanced data literacy, and a deeper appreciation for evidence-based reasoning. She reflected on the value of this opportunity, stating:

As a future nurse, especially one interested in critical care or research-based roles, these skills will be essential. They will help me evaluate interventions critically, contribute to quality improvement, and advocate for patient-centered care that includes both medical and lifestyle-based approaches.

Antonia’s journey highlights the transformative potential of research engagement in nursing education—equipping future clinicians with the tools to bridge science and practice in meaningful, patient-centered ways.

Curiosity carefully nurtured can be transformative. A core mission of higher education is to inspire students to cultivate their curiosity and experience transformative learning that contributes to building a healthier society for all. The undergraduate honors program at the UW School of Nursing helps us fulfill this goal. We are so fortunate to have remarkable undergraduate students who will undoubtedly become remarkable nurses. In their words,

Research taught me how to listen more deeply, think more critically, and hold space for complexity—all of which directly support the kind of nurse I want to be.

 

Women comprise half the U.S. population, own approximately 40% of American businesses, educate most of our nation’s children, lead 10% of Fortune 500 companies, establish a growing number of startup companies, and provide more than 75% of both paid and unpaid care to our seniors. While we clearly have a detailed understanding of women’s demographic characteristics and their significant economic contributions, we still know relatively little about their health.  When most people think about women’s health, they think of pregnancy and childbirth and breast, ovarian and uterine cancers. This is understandable, because the most evident differences between women and men are these reproductive organs; yet it is also an oversimplification of the range of health issues impacting women every day.

In 2018, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, pulmonary disease, stroke, and lung cancer were the leading causes of death and disability among American women; yet few people outside of the healthcare industry realize just how prevalent these diseases are in women. Women’s health is not mysterious or inexplicable; rather, at best, it has been rigidly compartmentalized and at its worst, woefully ignored.

This week, we continue our Investing in Women’s Health series by profiling the work of three University of Washington School of Nursing investigators who are dedicated to examining how to prevent and mitigate often overlooked health conditions in women.

Puberty is not a topic many people enjoy thinking or talking about, but Dr. Maria Bleil has spent decades trying to demystify how and what happens to girls during puberty, and the impacts to their health over the course of their lives. Maria discovered that girls who experience earlier puberty are more likely to face certain health issues such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even early death. These problems can be triggered by factors such as being overweight or having difficult experiences during childhood.

Maria leads a research team that aims to help all women, by identifying ways to support girls before they enter puberty. Focusing on targeting these prepubertal risk factors, her goal is to discover new ways to ensure a healthy pubertal transition, which will contribute to better health for women in the long run. Her work is supported by research grants from major health organizations, including four of the National Institutes of Health.

Though this is difficult work under the best of circumstances, Maria and her team are motivated by the importance of developing new knowledge that improves women’s health. Although women tend to live longer than men, they often suffer from more health problems and disabilities. She believes her research can make a difference for all women, helping them live healthier lives.

Looking ahead, Maria hopes that healthcare providers and institutions will consider puberty as a key factor when treating girls and women. By assessing early puberty signs and assisting girls who experience accelerated pubertal maturation, long-term health issues including heart disease and stroke may be prevented. Through her groundbreaking work, Maria strives to ensure that women not only live longer, but also enjoy better quality lives.

Tackling research on neglected health conditions is hard and often thankless work, but Assistant Professor, Kendra Kamp has never been daunted by the unknown. Dr. Kamp’s program of research is focused on making gut health better for everyone, especially for people living with inflammatory bowel disease (like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease) and irritable bowel irregularities. Using funding from the UW School of Nursing Research Intramural Funding Program and the National Institutes of Health, her team has discovered that symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, and fatigue are worse during menstruation. They also found that women with inflammatory bowel disease go through menopause earlier than those without the disease. By studying menstrual cycles and menopause, Dr. Kamp hopes to understand how reproductive hormones, symptoms, and biomarkers interact and affect all women.

Dr. Kamp is motivated by her experiences as a wife, mother, granddaughter, and caregiver. She has seen how women’s health affects the whole community and has witnessed friends and family suffer in silence because of cultural taboos and stigmas around discussing bowel problems or vaginal pain. She and her team are working to change this and ensure all women receive compassionate, evidence-based care. Looking ahead, Dr. Kamp envisions a future “where there is a strong focus on investing in women’s health. Women no longer have to suffer in silence”.

Last, but certainly not least, Associate Professor Oleg Zaslavsky is pioneering ways to support caregivers of older adults. Dr. Oleg Zaslavsky’s research is creating and testing novel digital tools to support cognitive, emotional, and physical wellbeing in older adults, particularly women who face greater risks of emotional disturbances and caregiving burden. By combining behavioral science, user-centered design, and technology, Dr. Zaslavsky and his team aim to promote healthy aging by creating accessible, evidence-based tools that support aging well and resilience in older adults. Dr. Zaslavsky’s work has received over $2 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health and private foundations. This support helps his team develop novel, evidence-based tools that are easy to use and accessible to many people.

The breadth of work highlighted in this series covers pivotal moments across the lifespan of women. From advancing HIV and STI prevention and treatment during pregnancy, supporting early development in childhood (Drs. Oxford, Bleil) to developing technological solutions to supporting healthy aging in older adults. As the leading funder of Research & Development in the United States, the Federal government has been instrumental in the discoveries described in this series. However, continued slowdowns in NIH and other federal funding are likely to threaten future progress. Despite these challenges, the knowledge generated by our passionate investigators will significantly improve women’s health– but this knowledge must be understood within the broader social, historical, economic, community contexts of women.

With the future funding in question, the University of Washington School of Nursing remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing women’s health research. Our vision is a future where all women – across all communities – have access to high-quality healthcare. We will continue to seek out bold, mission-driven partners who will work with us to support research that enables women to live their entire lives with prosperity, independence, dignity and liberty. Our dedicated faculty, staff and students are united in their efforts to generate high-quality evidence and innovations that advance science and transform this vision into reality.

~Allison R. Webel, PhD, RN, FAAN
Associate Dean for Research & Innovation

In case you missed the first part, you can find it here.

 

I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. … We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.

Investing in women’s health has countless benefits to families, communities and society as a whole. Organizations often cite the increases in economic productivity (up to a $ 1 trillion increase annually) and the high return on investment (every $1 invested in women’s health has the potential to return $3 in economic growth). While these numbers are certainly impressive, the rationale for investing in women’s health extends well beyond the economic benefits.

Yes, women are daughters and mothers, but they are also critical innovators, creators, caregivers, community leaders, consumers, chroniclers, and hold so many critical societal roles that underpin humanity’s progress and overall state of being. When women are healthy, we are all healthier; yet research into the holistic health of women has often lacked the same focus, resources and attention as men’s health. For over 40 years, the unwavering commitment to enhancing women’s health has driven UW School of Nursing scientists to pursue groundbreaking research — a mission that remains core to the forefront of our efforts today.

The breadth and depth of our collective women’s health research in the UW School of Nursing is so vast; to do this work justice, this anthology will be split into two parts. Building on the Go Global event last month, Part 1 focuses on our research to improve childbearing- becoming, during, or just after a woman gives birth- and childrearing. Next week, part 2 will continue to explore our research focusing on chronic diseases that differentially effect women.

Childbearing and Rearing

American women who seek to become, are in the process of becoming, or have recently become mothers, face shocking disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality compared to other similarly resourced countries around the globe.

Two of our nurse midwifery faculty members, Dr. Clare Sherly and Dr. Ellen Solis, are leading the HEALING Midwifery Together project. This transformative initiative examines the current state of midwifery practice and education in the United States through qualitative, community-driven research. By building relationships and fostering repair within and between midwifery professions, this project will create a more inclusive and supportive midwifery education system. Such efforts are critical for improving the health of women everywhere, ensuring that midwives are well-equipped to care for women, newborns, and all patients needing sexual and reproductive healthcare.

Generously funded by the Skyline Foundation, which provides $200,000 per year for three years, the project underscores the importance of the UW School of Nursing’s dedication to supporting midwives and will ultimately translate to better women’s and family care. Looking ahead, this project will co-create an implementation plan for an educational program that supports all midwifery professions, sharing knowledge and healing wounds to better support patients and families. This work is about more than just education; it’s about creating a sustainable profession that will make a profound impact on women’s health and overall well-being.

Another champion in this field, Associate Professor, Dr. Jillian Pintye’s path to becoming leading women’s health researcher began in Botswana. While serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer, she witnessed the devastating effects of HIV and STIs on women and children. This experience ignited her passion for research focused on these vulnerable populations. Determined to make a difference, Jillian became a nurse scientist, channeling her experiences into advancing health for all women. Her international research team develops new evidence-based tools that improves access to effective HIV and STI prevention and treatment, particularly for young women and pregnant populations. Their focused and united efforts tackle health issues that affect women hardest, amplifying the impact and reach of their work.

Supported by more than $14M in grants from NIH and the Gates Foundation, Jillian’s research is backed by distinguished sponsors. This funding not only advances HIV and STI prevention and treatment but also trains the next generation of bold, innovative women’s health scientists. Despite current challenges, Dr. Pintye is optimistic. Advances in HIV science bring the possibility of ending the HIV epidemic within our reach. She hopes her research will inform health policies and clinical practices, creating an HIV-free generation.

Many women face significant barriers to attending critical post-natal appointments, including socioeconomic challenges, lack of transportation, and cultural or language barriers. Assistant Professor Kaboni Gwonde, was recently awarded LHS E-Star funding to address these barriers. This new grant will enable her to generate valuable knowledge that will enable healthcare providers to understand the factors contributing to disparities in maternal and infant outcomes, particularly focusing on how social determinants of health and systemic factors impact access to quality post-natal care. By identifying and addressing these obstacles, Dr. Gwonde’s team can develop targeted interventions to improve post-natal care and support for women across Washington State. Funded by Kaiser Permanente, this project seeks to uncover the reasons behind the low uptake of post-natal care and develop solutions to ensure that all birthing people have a positive and supportive experience during the perinatal period. Dr. Gwonde’s ultimate goal, like many of our UW School of Nursing investigators, is to create a more equitable healthcare system that provides safe and effective care for all women post-birth.

The health of women, and their families, does not stop at postpartum care. For decades, Barnard Center for Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Director, Dr. Monica Oxford, has been focused on trauma-informed, strength-based approaches to support parents, especially mothers, who have faced adversity. At the Barnard Center, Dr. Oxford’s team bridges research, clinical practice, and policy to ensure that the voices of parents with trauma histories are centered and prioritized in family interventions and support systems. Her efforts have garnered nearly $25M in funding from the NIH, philanthropy, and workforce development contracts with state and local entities over the past decade.

As she describes it, Monica’s dedication stems from decades of research showing that early relationships shape our brains, bodies, and futures. Her team works to support all caregivers in fostering deep emotional connections with their children, laying the foundation for lifelong health and wellbeing. Looking ahead, Monica envisions a future where human connection is prioritized, enhancing emotional bonds not just between parents and children, but also between providers and clients, students and teachers, and leaders and communities. Her work is pivotal in shaping a supportive and connected society for all families.

Together, the collective work of these scholars is a testament to the power of passion and dedication, transforming women’s health and inspiring future scientists. In reviewing this body of work, it becomes clear that this science embodies the nursing code of ethics, which includes a provision that the nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights, health, and safety of the patient. Today, as in the previous four decades, UW School of Nursing scientists are dedicated to using every available tool of science to ensure that women around the globe are no longer held back by gaps in scientific knowledge.

At the University of Washington School of Nursing, fostering innovation and supporting our researchers at every career stage remains a cornerstone of our mission. Over the years, the Office for Nursing Research & Innovation has sought to mature our philanthropically supported funding mechanisms to better support the unique needs of our pioneering research community. One such effort was expanding the eligibility pool of our Research Intramural Funding Program (RIFP) to include postdoctoral scholars—a move intended to create more opportunities for early-career investigators to grow and thrive. 

Our initial attempts at better supporting these early-stage nurse scientists were promising, with several postdoctoral scholars leveraging their RIFP funding to embark on cutting-edge research. For example: 

• Jon Auld explored “Caregiver Needs and Health Outcomes After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation in the Patient,” which led to critical insights into improving support systems for caregivers in medical settings. [Auld JP, Streur MM, Thompson EA, Beckman J, Mahr C, Dougherty CM. Caregiver Challenges, Needs and Health Outcomes after Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. (2023). (in preparation)] 
• Kendra Kamp  used pilot funding (CISSM) to conduct a feasibility study on “Sleep Symptom Science in Inflammatory Bowel Disease,” advancing knowledge in symptom management and patient care. 

A result of the RIFP’s supportive, yet rigorous, review process led to improvements of their research protocols. Both Dr. Auld and Dr. Kamp exemplify the vast potential of UW School of Nursing postdoctoral scholars when provided with resources to address pressing research questions. Their success exemplifies the impact of pilot funding in advancing both individual careers and the broader research community. 

Building on these successes and lessons learned, we are excited to launch a new Post-Doctoral RIFP Award, supported through the Dean’s reinvestment funds. This pilot initiative, approved for one year, is designed to better address the unique needs of postdoctoral researchers in the current funding environment and will enhance our research community’s funding mechanisms. 

The Post-Doctoral RIFP Awards will augment the current Research Intramural Funding Program (RIFP) and provide a tailored funding opportunity that aligns with the career stage and research goals of our postdoctoral colleagues. 

Key Details of the Program: 

• Duration & Funding: Awards are limited to a one-year duration with funding ranging from $5,000 to $7,500. 

• Process: The program follows the same familiar call, submission, and review structure as the standard RIFP. 

• Investment: The Office for Nursing Research & Innovation expects to fund 2–3 awards annually, totaling up to $20,000 during this pilot phase. 

This program underscores our unwavering commitment to supporting postdoctoral researchers by providing targeted funding to advance their work and foster their growth as independent investigators. We encourage all of our UW School of Nursing postdoctoral scholars to take advantage of this opportunity, and we look forward to seeing the innovative contributions this program will inspire. 

Stay tuned to the weekly research roundup for further details on application deadlines and guidelines in the coming weeks! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Death. Taxes. Change. These, among the few certainties in life, that at best can evoke feelings of discomfort and at their worst, finality. Over the past few weeks, in response to the whiplash changes directed to federal sponsors, many members of our research community have reached out expressing emotions from across the spectrum. As nurses, and nurse allies, we are trained experts at helping people manage transitions associated with change. Hard change. Existential change. Permanent change. Though much remains to be adjudicated, we at the Office for Nursing Research & Innovation have no doubt that the federal research landscape is undergoing a permanent transformation.

Mourning what used to be, and experiencing anxiety and fear of what might become, is a normal response in times of great change. What remains steady in the wake of this shift is our unfailing commitment to continuing to pull together and support the research needs across our communities. Indeed, President Cauce’s message on Monday, detailed a number of resources to support our Principal Investigators which we encourage everyone to take advantage of.

As we continue to navigate this evolving landscape, know that the Office for Nursing Research & Innovation is working closely with the UW Office for Research. We will continue to monitor all federal administrative developments for implications affecting the School of Nursing research portfolio. At this time, we have no evidence that our portfolio is being impacted; however, if that changes, please know that we are here to work with your research teams to navigate that change. We will reach out directly to investigators (please, please read your emails) as we have evidence indicating impact on the School of Nursing; but also encourage you to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns about any aspect of your current or hoped for future research. To this end, we are launching weekly Open Zoom Offices to help you navigate the ongoing federal administrative changes that impact the research lifecycle of your projects. Please join us each Thursday 2-2:45pm, and there is more information in the newsletter below.

We know many of you have an urge to do something, anything during times of tumult. While it might be challenging due to the distractions arising daily, to the extent possible, we encourage you to stay focused on conducting your approved research. Completing high-impact, quality science and communicating how your study advances the public’s health is the single best action we can take at this moment. As scholars, nurses, and community leaders, it is up to us to define our scientific impact and not let us others define it for us.

Another certainty in life is that the sun will rise. From the darkest point of night, the sky gradually transitions through twilight, eventually yielding as dawn arrives in spectacular and predictable fashion.  As we transition to the dawn of a new era of research, please know that we are here to support you, your research teams, and the diverse communities our research serves, every step of the way.

~Allison R. Webel, PhD, RN, FAAN