IUSON receives NIH ‘Quality of Life in Chronic Illness’ grant

By Lyn Mettler

A new Center for Enhancing the Quality of Life in Chronic Illness has been funded by a five-year, $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The school, headquartered at IUPUI, is one of just nine schools in the country to receive th e distinction as a center.

“Chronic illness is an important research focus because it is estimated that 100 million Americans are living with a chronic condition and at least 40 million of them are living with more than one,” said Joan Austin, principal investigator of the center a nd a veteran member of the School of Nursing faculty.

“The focus of care for these persons is on maintaining an optimal quality of life rather than on cure. Our center will support research that develops interventions to enhance quality of life in persons with chronic illness.”

The National Institute of Nursing Research, a division of the NIH, provided the funding which will allow three IUPUI faculty members each year to receive $20,000 towards their research. The research must focus on health-related quality of life in persons with chronic conditions across their lifespan.

For example, one project will study people with colon cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths. The researcher will study how to improve the patients’ psychological state and increase their optimism, as well as attempt to improve bowel and sexual functioning—all common problems from people suffering from colon cancer.

Three prominent researchers at the IU School of Nursing and the IU School of Medicine will head up the program. Austin, known for her research on epilepsy, will lead the administrative core. Victoria Champion, also from the School of Nursing, has done ext ensive research on breast cancer and will direct the research development and dissemination core. Walter Ambrosius of the IU School of Medicine will lead the biostatistics support for researchers. Ambrosius is involved in collaborative research in the are as of nursing, hypertension and bone.

“With this center grant, our school joins a select number of nursing schools,” said Angela McBride, university dean of the IU School of Nursing. “Center grant support will encourage additional research in this important area, strengthen the science of our faculty and benefit practitioners and consumers alike as we disseminate what we learn.”