Each year the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative (CTSC) selects a research area in which to focus more CTSC activities through the Themed Pilot award program. This year鈥檚 Themed Pilot award focused on integrative medicine approaches to achieving fairness in health.
Integrative medicine connects and combines practices across disciplines from conventional medicine to evidence-based alternative therapies in order to bring wellness to the whole person and heal the mind, spirit and body. Integrative medicine is a patient-centered holistic approach that many hospital systems across the nation include in their retinue of services to improve health outcomes and engender optimal well-being for the patient. One of the most common integrative medicine examples is lifestyle modifications to address chronic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity, by prescribing and monitoring adjustments in nutrition, exercise, stress management and sleep hygiene.
Eligible member institution faculty at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth Medical Center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Northeast Ohio Medical University, and the University of Toledo were encouraged to apply for this funding.
The CTSC was able to fund four projects. These awardees clearly demonstrated an integrative medicine approach, detailing how their methods could be delivered across all patient populations with a plan for disseminating and implementing their solution to a wider audience in the future. Additionally, like all CTSC activities, the Themed Pilots require the involvement of at least two CTSC member institutions and encourage community engagement in the project.
More detailed information on each project below:
Dysbiotic microbiota potentiate polymicrobial biofilm formation in Post Acute Sequelae of SARS-Co-V2 (PASC) Patients
Mahmoud Ghannoum, PhD, director of the Center of Medical Mycology at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, was awarded a themed pilot for a clinical trial to study the effects of a Probiotic-amylase Blend (PBA) on gastrointestinal symptoms of Long Covid patients.
A Multicentered Randomized Controlled Pilot of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy to reduce health disparities in sarcoidosis
Logan Harper, MD, a Pulmonary and Critical Care staff physician at the Cleveland Clinic, was awarded a themed pilot for a randomized controlled multisite intervention to study the outcomes of a Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in patients with sarcoidosis associated fatigue.
Advancing Mental Health Equity through Community Partnership and Engagement
Jacob Hill, ND, MS, FABNO, an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and a Faculty Research Investigator in the Department of Wellness and Preventative Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, was awarded a themed pilot to assess community knowledge, interest, access and use of Mindfulness-based Interventions in an effort to scale up this type of psychological well being support while understanding what the community鈥檚 specific needs are in order to endanger better therapeutic benefit.
Advancing Sleep Health Equity Family Caregivers
Elliane Irani, PhD, RN, an Assistant Professor at the Francis Payne School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University, was awarded a themed pilot to evaluate a culturally-tailored sleep program which includes cognitive behavioral therapy, caregiving guidance and relaxation techniques to improve sleep and mental health administered to family caregivers.
Author: Anna Thornton-Matos, MPH - Administrative Lead, Research Pilot Program - CTSC of Northern Ohio
Related Funding News:
The 2025 Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) Research Program RFA is now available. Letters of Intent are due June 30, 2025. An informational webinar will be held on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 from 12:00PM - 1:00PM via Zoom, .