Health Communication and Digital Innovations Shared Resource - VCU Massey Cancer Center

About Health Communication & Digital Innovations (HCDI)

HCDI offers resources that enable researchers to build, develop and test innovative health communication and digital health solutions to improve clinical trial recruitment, participation and management, population health surveillance and patient/survivorship health management.

The HCDI shared resource acts as a gateway for researchers and practitioners who have interests in using social media, sensors, mobile devices or apps to improve recruitment, engagement and retention in population-based studies and clinical trials and conduct technology-based clinical and population health studies.

Location

The HCDI lab and office are located in the Department of Health Behavior and Policy on the 4th floor of the One Capitol Square building. The address is 830 E Main St., Richmond, VA, 23219. We have two internal offices and access to a meeting room.

Contact

For any specific questions, please contact HCDI@vcuhealth.org and we will be happy to assist you.

Services
The core provides a gateway for researchers who want to incorporate digital technology solutions into their work through a detailed consultation process.

Researchers will have access to various physical equipment, licenses, and other study support which helps researchers build, test, and launch technology-based health assessments and intervention tools.

Pre and post award grant consultations

Digital health platforms and custom builds

HCDI provides researcher with access to:
Please submit an online request form to learn more about these platforms and costs.

Equipment and software to share:

The HCDI can provide researchers with:
- Specialized software licenses (e.g. ActiLife 6)
- Sensors and wearable monitors (ActiGraph GT9X and CenterPoint)
- Smart phones and personalized mobile devices (e.g., Tablets)
- Computing equipment
- Data Collection and analysis
Qualitative services
- Focus Groups
- Semi Structured Interviews
- Naturalistic observations
- Data Consultations
- Protocol Development
- Data Collection & Analysis
- Policy Brief Drafts
- REDCap & qualtrics assistance/troubleshooting
Study brand kit
- Logo design
- Letterhead
- Newletter
- PowerPoint Theme
Who we are

The HCDI Core is comprised of a small team, as well as a Scientific Advisory Board.

Richard Brown, Ph.D.
HCDI Co-Director
Associate Professor, Department of Health Behavior and Policy
(804) 628-3340
richard.brown@vcuhealth.org

Sunny Jung Kim, Ph.D.
HCDI Co-Director
Assistant Professor, Department of Health Behavior and Policy
(804) 628-4688
sun.jung.kim@vcuhealth.org

Tatiana Kohlmann
Sr. Research Associate
Department of Health Behavior and Policy
804-628-7523
kohlmannta@vcu.edu

Jeremy Barsell, M.S.
Sr. Research Associate
Department of Health Behavior and Policy
barselldtj@vcu.edu
Scientific Advisory Committee & Ad Hoc Consultants

HCDI works with an advisory committee and ad hoc consultants.

Bernard Fuemmeler
HCDI Advisory Committee Chair
Professor and Gordon D. Ginder, MD Chair in Cancer Research in Health Behavior & Policy
President-Elect, Society of Behavioral Medicine
bernard.fuemmeler@vcuhealth.org

Jeanine Guidry
Assistant Professor VCU Robertson School of Media and Culture
Director, Media+Health Lab
guidryjd@vcuhealth.org

Katie McCaullough
Director of Information Technology Project Management VCU Health
katie.mccullough@vcuhealth.org

Jessica LaRose
Associate Professor, Health Behavior and Policy
Director OPT for Health
jessica.larose@vcuhealth.org

Tamas Gal
Associate Professor, Biostatistics
Director, Research Informatics at CCTR and MCC
tsgal@vcu.edu

Roy Sabo
Associate Professor, Biostatistics
Graduate Program Director, Biostatistics
Roy.sabo@vcuhealth.org

Oxana Palesh
Professor, Psychiatry
Co-leader, Massey’s CPC Program
Oxana.palesh@vcuhealth.org

Ad Hoc Consultants

Andrew Barnes
Associate Professor, Health Behavior & Policy
Project and Core Director, Center for the Study of Tobacco Products
Andrew.barnes@vcuhealth.org

Marshall Brooks
Assistant Professor, Family Medicine & Population Health
Member, Health and Wellness in Aging Populations Core
Edward.brooks@vcuhealth.org

Alexander Lucas
Instructor, Health Behavior and Policy
Alexander.lucas@vcuhealth.org

Rashelle Hayes
Associate Professor, Psychiatry
Rashelle.hayes@vcuhealth.org
Applied Digital Innovations
PiLR Health

PiLR was used for Dr. LaRose’s Ready.Set.Health Study. This study assess challenges for young women to lose weight when enrolled in a lifestyle intervention. PiLR was used for EMA surveys on a personalized schedule for participants to receive:
- 4 surveys per day
- 4 days per week
- 4 weeks total
Vibrent Health

The overall goal of the (THRIVE) Cancer Survivorship Cohort is to study Geographic and Racial Disparities to improve our understanding of the social, psychological, behavioral, and environmental factors which may contribute to differences in cancer survivorship.

Vibrent Health will be used to determine:
1. The feasibility of using remote research methods to conduct research among cancer survivors with commonly diagnosed cancers that have known geographic and racial disparities in mortality, and whether there is differential uptake and willingness based on participant geographic and demographic factors.
2. Assessing participant recruitment and retention through different levels of involvement during the study
3. Characterizing the social, psychological, behavioral, and environmental factors which may contribute to differences in cancer survivorship THRIVE will also be collecting activity and sleep data via ActiGraph GT9X devices available for lending.
Pattern Health

Pattern Health will be used in the SUCCEED (pilot project: engaging black men in CRC Screening) to be the central location for colo-rectal cancer educational materials in the form of video, text and audio. The goal of SUCCEED is to increase colo-rectal cancer screening in black men in Petersburg. Pattern Health will also be used to send personalized SMS messages with survey links and track content that participants are consuming.

EARS by Ksana Health

EARS was used in the "Southern Virginia - Adolescents, Place, and Behavior" Study, or SoVA-APB. SoVA-APB is a Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth grant-funded project that investigates rural adolescents' smoking behaviors in relation to tobacco marketing and advertising exposure in their physical environment as well as online, such as social media apps. EARS will be used to deliver daily EMA surveys, collect GPS data, and measure time spent on social media apps.

The core provides a gateway for researchers who want to incorporate digital technology solutions into their work through a detailed consultation process.

Researchers will have access to various physical equipment, licenses, and other study support which helps researchers build, test, and launch technology-based health assessments and intervention tools.

Pre and post award grant consultations

Digital health platforms and custom builds

HCDI provides researcher with access to:

PiLR Health
Pattern Health
Vibrent Health
EARS from Ksana Health

Please submit an online request form to learn more about these platforms and costs.

Equipment and software to share:

The HCDI can provide researchers with:

Specialized software licenses (e.g. ActiLife 6)
Sensors and wearable monitors (ActiGraph GT9X and CenterPoint)
Smart phones and personalized mobile devices (e.g., Tablets)
Computing equipment
Data Collection and analysis

Qualitative services

Focus Groups
Semi Structured Interviews
Naturalistic observations
Data Consultations
Protocol Development
Data Collection & Analysis
Policy Brief Drafts
REDCap & qualtrics assistance/troubleshooting

Study brand kit

Logo design
Letterhead
Newletter
PowerPoint Theme

The HCDI Core is comprised of a small team, as well as a Scientific Advisory Board.

Richard Brown, Ph.D.
HCDI Co-Director
Associate Professor, Department of Health Behavior and Policy
(804) 628-3340
richard.brown@vcuhealth.org

Sunny Jung Kim, Ph.D.
HCDI Co-Director
Assistant Professor, Department of Health Behavior and Policy
(804) 628-4688
sun.jung.kim@vcuhealth.org

Tatiana Kohlmann
Sr. Research Associate
Department of Health Behavior and Policy
804-628-7523
kohlmannta@vcu.edu

Jeremy Barsell, M.S.
Sr. Research Associate
Department of Health Behavior and Policy
barselldtj@vcu.edu

HCDI works with an advisory committee and ad hoc consultants.

Bernard Fuemmeler
HCDI Advisory Committee Chair
Professor and Gordon D. Ginder, MD Chair in Cancer Research in Health Behavior & Policy
President-Elect, Society of Behavioral Medicine
bernard.fuemmeler@vcuhealth.org

Jeanine Guidry
Assistant Professor VCU Robertson School of Media and Culture
Director, Media+Health Lab
guidryjd@vcuhealth.org

Katie McCaullough
Director of Information Technology Project Management VCU Health
katie.mccullough@vcuhealth.org

Jessica LaRose
Associate Professor, Health Behavior and Policy
Director OPT for Health
jessica.larose@vcuhealth.org

Tamas Gal
Associate Professor, Biostatistics
Director, Research Informatics at CCTR and MCC
tsgal@vcu.edu

Roy Sabo
Associate Professor, Biostatistics
Graduate Program Director, Biostatistics
Roy.sabo@vcuhealth.org

Oxana Palesh
Professor, Psychiatry
Co-leader, Massey’s CPC Program
Oxana.palesh@vcuhealth.org

Ad Hoc Consultants

Andrew Barnes
Associate Professor, Health Behavior & Policy
Project and Core Director, Center for the Study of Tobacco Products
Andrew.barnes@vcuhealth.org

Marshall Brooks
Assistant Professor, Family Medicine & Population Health
Member, Health and Wellness in Aging Populations Core
Edward.brooks@vcuhealth.org

Alexander Lucas
Instructor, Health Behavior and Policy
Alexander.lucas@vcuhealth.org

Rashelle Hayes
Associate Professor, Psychiatry
Rashelle.hayes@vcuhealth.org

PiLR Health

PiLR was used for Dr. LaRose’s Ready.Set.Health Study. This study assess challenges for young women to lose weight when enrolled in a lifestyle intervention. PiLR was used for EMA surveys on a personalized schedule for participants to receive:

4 surveys per day
4 days per week
4 weeks total

Vibrent Health

The overall goal of the (THRIVE) Cancer Survivorship Cohort is to study Geographic and Racial Disparities to improve our understanding of the social, psychological, behavioral, and environmental factors which may contribute to differences in cancer survivorship.

Vibrent Health will be used to determine:

The feasibility of using remote research methods to conduct research among cancer survivors with commonly diagnosed cancers that have known geographic and racial disparities in mortality, and whether there is differential uptake and willingness based on participant geographic and demographic factors.
Assessing participant recruitment and retention through different levels of involvement during the study
Characterizing the social, psychological, behavioral, and environmental factors which may contribute to differences in cancer survivorship THRIVE will also be collecting activity and sleep data via ActiGraph GT9X devices available for lending.

Pattern Health

Pattern Health will be used in the SUCCEED (pilot project: engaging black men in CRC Screening) to be the central location for colo-rectal cancer educational materials in the form of video, text and audio. The goal of SUCCEED is to increase colo-rectal cancer screening in black men in Petersburg. Pattern Health will also be used to send personalized SMS messages with survey links and track content that participants are consuming.

EARS by Ksana Health

EARS was used in the "Southern Virginia - Adolescents, Place, and Behavior" Study, or SoVA-APB. SoVA-APB is a Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth grant-funded project that investigates rural adolescents' smoking behaviors in relation to tobacco marketing and advertising exposure in their physical environment as well as online, such as social media apps. EARS will be used to deliver daily EMA surveys, collect GPS data, and measure time spent on social media apps.

Citation

All publications that include results, services or products generated by the VCU Massey Cancer Center Shared Resources must include the following acknowledgement in the manuscript:

"Services in support of the research project were generated by the VCU Massey Cancer Center Health Communication and Digital Innovation shared resource core, supported, in part, with funding from NIH-NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA016059."

PubMed Central (PMC) ID numbers are required for those publications that use CCSG-supported shared resources. All of Massey Cancer Center's shared resources are supported by the CCSG.

Suggested grant language

For suggested grant language, please submit an online request form and we will be happy to assist you.