Category: Notes on Innovation and Research

Every day, more than 2,500 Americans die from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) – heart attacks, strokes, sudden cardiac arrest, among others. CVD is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and around the globe. But many more Americans and their families work to reduce the causes, symptoms, and consequences of cardiovascular disease across populations. In recognition of American Heart Month month, this week we highlight the innovative science of three UW School of Nursing investigators to reduce CVD across settings. As we reflect on their scientific contributions, one consistent theme emerges – the unwavering dedication of nurse scientists to amplify the voices and experiences of those living with or affected by heart disease. 

Assistant Professor, Alexi Vasbinder PhD, RN studies cancer survivors in the United States, particularly those who have or are preparing to undergo a bone marrow transplant which increases their risk of cardiovascular complications and long-term cardiovascular disease. Alexi says she is “passionate about this work because these individuals have already fought so hard for their health, and I want to help ensure they live long, healthy lives beyond cancer.” Her work, which has been published in various high-impact scientific journals, seeks to inform clinical guidelines for tailored treatment, monitoring, and prevention strategies for cardiovascular complications in cancer survivors. By identifying cancer survivors at the highest risk for CVD, Alexi’s work is laying the foundation for personalized interventions to catch heart issues early, provide better long-term monitoring, and ultimately prevent cardiovascular disease in this vulnerable and resilient population. 

Similarly, as people increasingly develop multiple chronic health diseases, UW School of Nursing investigators are trying to develop novel interventions to help patients manage their cardiovascular risk factors using patient-centered strategies. Research Assistant Professor, Vitor Oliveira was recently awarded one of the School’s RIFP grants to conduct a Proof-of-concept study developing a behavioral intervention to improve the cardiovascular health of people living with HIV. Motivating this work, Vitor notes that “today HIV is treated as a chronic condition and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among these patients.” He is dedicated to shedding light on these often overlooked co-occurring health issues by generating novel evidence in studies funded by NIH, NORC and many other sponsors. His goal is to empower this population with the knowledge of how to effectively use lifestyle interventions, like physical activity and nutritional supplements, to combat heart disease. 

In Mozambique, Professor Sarah Gimble is exploring ways to reduce high blood pressure in adults living with HIV in low-income settings. She emphasizes the dual importance of this issue: high blood pressure is widespread, and HIV care is the only chronic healthcare platform in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her team believes that integrating other chronic diseases into this platform is efficient and could create a scalable model for the entire population. Sarah encapsulates the impact of her research by stating, ‘Cardiovascular health is crucial for everyone. When properly managed, it can mitigate numerous other illnesses.’ Her work, along with the work of Drs Vasbinder and Oliveira, underscore the transformative potential of prioritizing heart health, not just for individuals, but for entire communities in the United States and throughout the world.  

For the past six months, my daughter has been obsessed with the Percy Jackson book series based on Greek mythology. In these stories, an underdog character is chosen to embark on an adventure that requires courage; danger; and a potential loss of livelihood, limb or life for themselves, or those they love. Should the adventurer survive and achieve their conquest, honor and legendary status are conferred – and perhaps even a place among the stars. This is a wholly human narrative, and its motifs appear long throughout the history of storytelling: Greek mythology, Augustan propaganda, religious texts, Arthurian legends, all manner of motion pictures, and even with the story Florence Nightingale.

Nursing has many socially constructed myths.  Racial, class, and even gender superiority; more credentials being akin to more expertise; nursing as a calling not a job; and sacrifice and martyrdom by nurses are required to maintain our profession’s nobility (but noticeably no one else). While all interconnected, it is the first myth, the myth of racial superiority that the Manning Price Spratlen Center for Antiracism and Equity in Nursing was created to dismantle. Initially under the direction of Dr. Butch de Castro, and most recently under the leadership of Dr. Monica McLemore, the scholarly work of this center over the past four years has been wide-ranging, provocative, and inspirational.

In a recent conversation with Dr. McLemore, we discussed her proudest moments as the MPS-CARE Director, and her hopes for the future of the center.  A common theme emerged – her unfailing belief in science.
“When I was a clinical nurse, I realized that science would be forever.” This realization is what motivated her to pursue a scientific career, to lead the RWJF report, Mapping the Landscape of Anti-Racism in Nursing, characterizing the current efforts and potential scientific pathways for nurses to dismantle racism within our own profession, thereby enabling more equitable healthcare for all.  Yet, not unlike mythological heroes, Dr. McLemore knows that while what we as scientists describe and discover will inevitably be eclipsed; the knowledge gained from our scientific journey will outlast us all.

Last week, the University of Washington said goodbye to Dr. McLemore as she departed to undertake a new leadership role at the NYU Rory Myers College of Nursing.  Her leadership will be missed. However, the work of dismantling mythology in nursing extends far beyond the work of one individual or one center. It is the work of all of us, and science offers tools to allow us to accomplish this work.  Audre Lorde said, “…and that visibility which makes us most vulnerable is that which also is the source of our greatest strength.”

Science brings about visibility to truths previously unseen. Gravity, entropy, microbial fermentation, and CRISPR, were all invisible until the tools of science transformed them into some of the greatest forces on earth. Nurse scientists have and continue to apply systemic observation, experimentation, and reason to reveal proof and illuminate how we can innovate physical, biological, social, and digital tools to help all people achieve their best possible health. Yet despite their paramount importance, observation, experimentation, and reason are currently being undervalued and undermined to an extent not seen in decades.  We, as a community, with our practice firmly rooted in science, must come together to defend these keystones of knowledge. It is imperative that we not only seek scientific data but also increase our ability to articulate the impact of our work broadly across all communities in which we practice, collaborate, and serve. As nurses, we occupy a unique vantage point, often situated at the intersection of science and humanity. Perhaps this unique perspective serves as our greatest strength, enabling us to draw back the curtain on many long-standing myths, and turn toward the source of scientific truth.

~Allison Webel, PhD, RN, FAAN

Partnering to Scale Nurse-Led Innovation

As we begin the new year, I’m excited to highlight how the University of Washington School of Nursing Office for Nursing Research and Innovation is building partnerships to scale nurse-led innovations into solutions that create a tangible impact on patient care. One project exemplifying this vision is our recent STTR proposal, which leverages collaboration between the School of Nursing, the Digital Health Innovation Hub, our UW School of Nursing Simulation Center, and our industry partner Crimson Medical Solutions.

The project focuses on the IV Manager, a patented tool from Crimson Medical Solutions designed to enhance safety in IV line management by reducing medication errors, particularly in critical care settings. This solution addresses a pressing issue for multiple patient populations and specifically for geriatric populations, where age-related changes and polypharmacy increase vulnerability to adverse drug events. By improving IV labeling and organization, the IV Manager has the potential to significantly enhance patient safety without disrupting nursing workflows.

Our Simulation Center plays a pivotal role in advancing this innovation. In a high-fidelity simulated critical care environment, ICU nurses will evaluate the IV Manager’s effectiveness in reducing errors and its impact on workflows. This collaboration exemplifies the value of harnessing the school’s cutting-edge resources to refine innovations before clinical scale up, ensuring they are both evidence-based and practical.

At the Digital Health Innovation Hub, we envision partnerships like these—blending nursing expertise, simulation technology, and business development—as the future of healthcare innovation. By collaborating with the Simulation Center and industry partners, we aim to turn transformative ideas into scalable solutions that improve care delivery across communities. I invite our nursing community to think about how we can expand these efforts, exploring new opportunities to work across disciplines and sectors. Together, we can drive meaningful change in healthcare, translating nurse-led innovation into real-world impact.

Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve…. You only need a heart full of grace- a soul generated by love.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 20th marked the 30th observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day. This moment is an opportunity for many of us to reflect on how we can be of service to our communities by continuing to deepen and shape our collective impact.

The question of what we, as nurses, are doing for others is in many ways foundational to our profession’s existence. We chose nursing to serve our community members in their time of need; to be of use to humankind, and to make the gifts of time and education matter. Yet, as many of us transition from practicing clinical nurses to nurse scientists and innovators, that raison d’être can often become obscured.

The UW School of Nursing’s philanthropically- supported Research Intramural Funding Program (RIFP) is an opportunity to expand our horizons through research impact. This week we want to highlight recipients of the UW School of Nursing’s RIFP. A common thread throughout these proposals is a deep dedication to using science to improve the health and wellbeing of our community’s most marginalized people.

Recognizing that the children of parents living with cancer are often overlooked in their parent’s treatment journey, Drs. Fran Lewis and Bethanny Rolf Witham will adapt their successful Enhancing Connections programs for Spanish-speaking families. Older adults with dementia are among society’s most vulnerable and are hard to study. Yet, these challenges have never daunted Dr. Oleg Zaslavsky – a pioneer in digital health innovations for those experiencing dementia. His RIFP will allow him to develop a cloud-based artificial intelligence system for early detection of pneumonia in individuals living with dementia who reside in long term care facilities. Our third RIFP recipient, Dr. Vitor Oliveira, will develop a hybrid exercise intervention to improve the health of adults living with HIV and heart failure. Non-pharmacological strategies to manage chronic diseases, including heart failure, are promising but often overlooked strategies for healthy aging.

Each of these investigators are centering members of our community that are often overlooked in traditional research. They demonstrate the audacity of nurses to innovate and improve systems in service of our patients—a hallmark of our profession.

Nelson Mandela once said, “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination”. How fortunate we are to have colleagues, teachers, scientists, and friends right here in the UW School of Nursing who have never doubted, and continue to employ, this formidable combination as they develop tools to improve the lives of our community’s most vulnerable.

~Allison Webel, PhD, RN, FAAN

Impact. This is the answer to so many customarily asked questions in higher education. Why did you choose nursing? Why did you pursue a career in science? Why did you choose the University of Washington? The shared desire to improve our collective existence is simultaneously an overstated, yet underrecognized, motivation as to why so many of us are here together, in this place, at this time.

Impact also stands as the inspiration of many sponsored projects that transcend traditional boundaries, sparking creativity that extends beyond bureaucratic constraints. It is in support of these projects that the University of Washington School of Nursing created the first of its kind Impact Office. A distinct, yet integral component of the Office for Nursing Research & Innovation, our Impact Office provides a suite of services that robustly support audacious projects that bring significant value not just to the University of Washington School of Nursing, but to our larger community that we serve.

In this week’s Weekly Research Roundup, the Director of our Impact Office, Jessie Rehms, introduces the work of this transformational unit. Future editions of the Impact Office’s biweekly update will highlight incredible projects, including work from Dr. Bill Lober and the Clinical Informatics Research Group; support of our Manning Price Spratlen Center for Anti-Racism & Equity in Nursing’s report on opportunities to dismantle systemic racism in health care organizations (led by Dr. Monica McLemore); and Dr. Jenna Van Draanen’s work to evaluate and provide recommendations for overdose prevention programs in King County.

The Nursing Impact Office is a fee for service support unit that provides à la carte infrastructure to projects that don’t align with the traditional definition of a sponsored project. Whether you’re looking to stand up a governmental service contract, a philanthropic training initiative, a community-based analysis in service of our community’s health, or other daring ideas, the Impact Office is here to support your work. Please learn more about the Impact Office’s services, the types of projects they support, and how to work with this talented team here.

Transforming words and ideas into meaningful action is the cornerstone of high-impact scholarly projects. If you and your research team are ready to make a difference through an innovative, high-impact project, please reach out to the Impact Office today.

As nurses, we’ve all experienced moments of desperation. Desperation for ourselves, for our colleagues, for our patients, and even for the families and loved ones we provide care for. We often find ourselves driven by a want to solve the problem before us, yet we are limited by a lack of the tools needed to do so. We are regularly faced with wondering what future advancements might someday improve treatments and patient quality of life. In these moments of overwhelming desperation, frustration, and empathy for our fellow humans, that is when the seeds of innovation take root, branching out into advancements in care and treatment, revolutionizing the patient care continuum.

Innovation has always been a key component of nursing practice, education, and science. For decades, scholars here, at the University of Washington School of Nursing, have been vanguard in generating science that impacts every setting in which nurses practice. We conducted the first research examining the relationship between sleep patterns and chronic illness; we were among the first to characterize the menstrual cycle and menopause, enabling women to understand how to age well; the first to describe how building resilient communities can improve the health of immigrant families; and we were the first to create a rocking bed for infants to help them grow, a tool which continues to be the standard in hospital nurseries today. These discoveries, and the hundreds of others incubated in our school, have improved our nation’s health, helping to form the basis for nursing practice today. We are a community where science has never been limited by tradition, scarcity, fear, heartbreak, or inertia.

Over the past few years, I have been continually inspired by the incredible array of scientific innovations developed by our faculty, staff, students, and alumni. A sampling of these recent innovations include:

• Developing a new program to help parents AND their children deal with a new diagnosis of cancer,
• Expanding the potential of artificial intelligence to promote diversity and inclusion in research studies,
• Integrating virtual reality into new tools to help reduce the stress experienced by so many adolescents,
• Inventing a smart phone app to help older adults with dementia de-escalate behavioral disturbances,
• Creating the first implicit bias clinical education tool to reduce health disparities throughout our region, or
• Building an AI-assisted platform to support healthcare workers delivering care to those with Tuberculosis in low resource settings.

Innovation is the lifeblood of the University of Washington School of Nursing. In 2023, to further support this work, we launched the Digital Health Innovation Hub. Its intent is to convene scholars, students, patients, and family members, bringing a diverse array of voices together to envision the digital health innovations that advance health and wellbeing for all members of our community.

In recognition of this growing work, and our dedication to supporting nurse innovators, we have re-named the Office for Nursing Research to the Office for Nursing Research & Innovation (ONR&I). We will continue to provide the same excellent support throughout the research lifecycle and look forward to constructing new infrastructure to support innovation. If you have thoughts or ideas regarding new tools, resources, or networks that ONR&I can provide your team to support scientific innovation, we encourage you to connect with us. We look forward to supporting all of you as you develop nurse-led innovations that will advance the health of all. Together, we can be limitless.

~Allison Webel, PhD, RN, FAAN