New REDCap feature protects from 'bot' respondents

Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s data collection and storage tool, REDCap, now offers an option to protect against malicious software, known as "bots," from completing fraudulent surveys. When completing a survey, users will complete a CAPTCHA process.
CAPTCHA is short…

New project to study harsh parenting to inform better interventions

Research shows that harsh parenting results in children with lower self-esteem and behavior problems, but many parents still practice it. Penn State researchers were recently awarded a $2.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to improve the scientific understanding of harsh…

Penn State research informs PA report on school start times

Later school start times improve educational and health outcomes by giving students more sleep, according to a new reportfrom the Pennsylvania Joint State Commission on School Start Times, released today (Oct. 17).
Orfeu Buxton, professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State, was asked to…

Professor to moderate congressional briefing on opioid dependence, addiction

Diana Fishbein, professor of human development and family studies and director of the Program of Translational Research on Adversity Neurodevelopment in the Prevention Research Center at Penn State, is co-organizing and moderating the congressional briefing, “The Real Dangers of Equating…

Exercise can now be prescribed like medicine for people with and beyond cancer

It’s well known that exercise is good for preventing and treating many forms of heart disease, but less commonly known are the benefits of physical activity for people living with and beyond cancer.
A new initiative called Moving Through Cancer — led by Kathryn Schmitz, professor of public…

Career expo to feature on crime, law, and policy agencies and organizations

The Criminal Justice Research Center will be hosting its inaugural crime, law, and policy-focused career expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, in Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. The Government and Public Sector Career Expo will allow students to access various agencies and organizations…

Early Lessons for States Trying to Achieve a Culture of Health Detailed in September Issue of The American Journal of Accountable Care®

While states face many barriers to implement a culture of health (COH)—moving toward improved population health, well-being and health equity—there are five action steps state policymakers can use to guide such efforts, according to early research published in the September issue of …

2019 Bennett Lecture to focus on mindfulness-based Interventions for addiction

On Oct. 15, at 4 p.m., Katie Witkiewitz, psychology professor at the University of New Mexico, will present the 2019 Bennett Lecture in Prevention Science, "Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Addiction: Making a Better Band-Aid," in 110 Henderson Building. The event is free and open to the public…

27th Annual National Symposium on Family Issues will take place Oct. 21-22

Helping children develop healthy diets is no easy task. The practice is dependent on the crucial roles families play in children’s eating behaviors and orientations toward food. The 2019 National Symposium on Family Issues will provide an overview of the many interconnections between…

8th annual Child Maltreatment Solutions Network Conference explores the future of foster care

Improving placement quality and outcomes for children in foster care was one of the themes at the 2019 Child Maltreatment Solutions Network Conference, “The Future of Foster Care: New Science to Address Old Problems," held recently at Penn State’s University Park campus.
Placement quality refers to…

Reminder to Review Accuracy of Grant Information Before October 11

We make data on all funded NIH grants available to the public on the RePORT website. One of the ways we provide information is by school/department, which you can explore using the Awards by Location feature. Because of inconsistencies in the way information on department…

Registration open for a seminar on increasing policy relevance of research

Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute presents “Increasing Policy Relevance of Research” at its next Bench to Bedside and Beyond Seminar Series from noon to 1 p.m. on Oct. 25. 
In addition to being held in H4504 at the College of Medicine, the session will be streamed to…

Pilot funding available for collaborative projects that improve human health

Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute is accepting letters of intent to apply for its Bridges to Translation VI pilot grant program. Pilot grants are available for up to $50,000. The institute expects to fund three-to-five projects.
Penn State Clinical and Translational…

Lecture series continues with "Mindful Living to Overcome Opioid Addiction"

The Penn State Shenango 2019-20 Lecture Series will continue with a presentation by Tammy Divens, assistant teaching professor in occupational therapy at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 in Lecture Hall 223. Divens’ lecture, “Mindful Living to Overcome Opioid Addiction,” will share on mindsets that influence…

Law Review Symposium to highlight effects of federalism on opioid use policy

The Dickinson Law Review will present "Crisis of Authority: The Effects of Federalism on Opioid Policy" from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, in the Apfelbaum Family Courtroom and Auditorium, located in Lewis Katz Hall at Dickinson Law. Registration is available online.
The annual…

Aging in rural America focus of new research network

The rural population in the U.S. is aging at a more rapid rate than in urban areas, while disparities in rural health and life expectancy continue to grow. A new five-year, $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging (NIA) will fund a Penn State-led…

New tool available to explore feasibility of multi-site clinical studies

Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute now offers a tool for research population discovery and study feasibility for multi-site clinical studies. The Accrual to Clinical Trials (ACT) Network is a real-time, open-access platform for researchers throughout the National…

How Do We Make Evidence Have an Impact? Podcast

The latest episode of the "Ask the Experts" series features Max Crowley, assistant professor of human development and family studies and director of SSRI’s Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative. 

Seed funding available for social and behavioral sciences

Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) is announcing the availability of Level 1 and Level 2 funding to support faculty members in the social and behavioral sciences at Penn State.
“We are interested in supporting new research programs that address critical human and social…

People with anxiety may strategically choose worrying over relaxing

Relaxing is supposed to be good for the body and soul, but people with anxiety may actively resist relaxation and continue worrying to avoid a large jump in anxiety if something bad does happen, according to Penn State research.
In a new study, the researchers found that people who were more…

Shores' research on cuts in school spending leading to learning loss

SSRI cofunded faculty member Kenneth Shores' research into school spending cuts triggered by the Great Recession being associated with sizable losses in academic achievement for students living in counties most affected by the economic downturn, was published recently in AERA Open, a peer-reviewed…

Abstracts can be submitted for fifth annual Penn State Addiction Symposium

The Penn State Addiction Center for Translation is accepting abstracts for consideration as poster and oral presentations at the center's fifth annual Penn State Addiction Symposium. Send a 250-word abstract, complete with title, author(s), affiliations and the presenter's email address, to PSACT@…

Bench to Bedside and Beyond seminar on Oct. 16 to focus on funding opportunities

The Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute will present “Funding Opportunities Unique to Clinical and Translational Science Institute” at its next Bench to Bedside and Beyond Seminar Series, set for noon to 1 p.m. on Oct. 16.
In addition to being held in H4504 at the Penn State…

Why Social Science? - Because It Tells Us How to Create More Engaged Citizens

By Adam Seth Levine, PhD, Associate Professor of Government, Cornell University; President, research4impact
Engaged citizens are not born. They are made. Leaders of voluntary civic associations play a critical role in this process. They offer people opportunities to exercise their voice on issues…

Schuylkill nursing professor researches impact of opioid addiction on families

Marianne Adam, associate teaching professor in the College of Nursing at Penn State Schuylkill, has been an asset to the Penn State nursing community, educating future nurses while researching substantial health issues ranging from palliative care, diabetes, and her current focus — the opioid…