WHITTIER,
Calif., Oct. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California University of Health Sciences
(SCU) proudly announces that its Clinical and Health Research
department has received a $1.7
million R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health
(NIH). This prestigious grant will fund groundbreaking research
comparing the safety, efficiency, and care costs for Medicare
beneficiaries receiving acupuncture for chronic low back pain. The
research, in collaboration with Dartmouth
College, launched in August and will span three years.
The NIH R01 grant is highly sought after and
represents a significant milestone for SCU, underscoring the
university's commitment to advancing evidence-based care. The
project, titled "Acupuncture for Medicare Beneficiaries with
Chronic Low Back Pain: Access, Utilization, and Outcomes," is led
by Principal Investigator Dr. James
Whedon, DC, MS, a distinguished Professor and Senior
Clinical Health Services Researcher at SCU.
A licensed chiropractor, Dr. Whedon has authored
more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and is recognized for his
research comparing non-pharmacological and pharmacological chronic
pain care for Medicare recipients. His dedication to integrative
health has earned him numerous accolades, including the Jerome F.
McAndrews DC Memorial Research Fund Award from the NCMIC Foundation
and the Scott Haldeman Award for
Outstanding Research from the World Federation of Chiropractic.
"We are thrilled to have the NIH's backing of
this potentially transformative research that will inform policies
at Medicare and benefit the millions of people suffering from back
pain who need safe and more effective treatments for their
condition," said Dr. Whedon. "A research project like this is only
possible with the hard work, support, and collaboration of many. My
heartfelt thanks to Research Director Dr. Steffany Moonaz for her vision, to university
leadership for their unfailing support of the Research Program, to
our research advisory board, and to all the project
investigators for their hard work on the research proposal. Very
special thanks also to SCU Research Administrator Crina Gandila for smoothly shepherding the grant
application through to a successful conclusion."
Using claims data, field research, survey data,
and qualitative research methods, this research will assess the
impact of Medicare's recent decision to cover non-pharmacologic
treatment for chronic low back pain. Despite evidence-based
clinical guidelines prioritizing non-pharmacologic therapies like
acupuncture, many patients with chronic low back pain have
historically relied solely on analgesic medications, often with
limited efficacy. The results of this research can potentially
improve care and outcomes for patients with this challenging
condition.
"To our knowledge, this is the first R01 grant in
SCU history, and most of our peer institutions have not achieved
this designation," said Dr. Steffany Moonaz, Director of Clinical
and Health Sciences Research at SCU. "The project reflects with
SCU's commitment to evidence-based, integrative healthcare and we
could not be more excited about the potential impact."
With this substantial NIH grant, SCU is
positioned to make a significant contribution to the field of
chronic pain management. The university looks forward to sharing
the results of the study and continuing its mission to enhance
health and well-being through integrative approaches.
www.scuhs.edu
About Southern California
University of Health Sciences
Southern California University of Health
Sciences (SCU) is one of the world's only integrative, whole health
universities—teaching students to blend the best of conventional
medicine with proven complementary approaches, and to treat the
whole person (body, mind, and spirit). Founded in 1911, SCU
has been challenging convention and pushing healthcare forward for
more than 100 years. Today, the institution offers graduate,
undergraduate, and certificate programs in a wide range of
disciplines, including Chiropractic, Sports Medicine, Physical
& Occupational Therapy, Genetic Counseling, Genetics &
Genomics, Medical Science, Physician Assistant, Ayurveda,
Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine, Whole Health Leadership,
and beyond. Learn more at scuhs.edu.
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SOURCE Southern California
University of Health Sciences