The Center for Health Communication launched the Communication for Health, Empathy, and Resilience (CHER) grant program in Fall 2017 with the goal to promote collaboration between Moody College of Communication and Dell Medical School faculty in their evidence-based health communication scholarship, education, and community involvement endeavors.
Following a competitive review process, grants will be awarded to teams of faculty and students to conduct pilot projects investigating communication’s key role in promoting wellness, creating a culture of empathy among healthcare providers, and enabling people to resist and recover from illness or injury.
TIMELINE FOR 2020-2021 CHER CYCLE
- Mid-September 2020: Initial cycle announcement circulated
- November 5, 2020: Deadline for Letters of Interest (see template)
- December 4, 2020: Applicants notified, finalists invited to prepare full proposal and presentation
- Early January 2021: Finalist presentations
- January 30, 2021: Awards announced
- February 1, 2021: Current cycle funding period starts (projects must have IRB approval before funds released)
- Early fall 2021: Current cycle “mid-term” progress reports due to CHER grant program administrators; financial progress report provided by CHC to grantees
- Early spring 2022: Current cycle “wrap up” progress reports due to CHER grant program administrators; financial progress report provided by CHC to grantees
- May 31, 2022: Current cycle funding period ends, and final reports due
2020-2021 CHER Grantees
CHER awarded approximately $20,000 for the fourth cycle of grant funding.
CHER Grantee #1: Developing a Health Communication Intervention to Meet the Psychosocial Needs of Young Women Living with Breast Cancer
- Principal Investigator: Kate Pounders, Ph.D., Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations
- Co-Investigator: Tara Kaufmann, M.D., Departments of Oncology and Internal Medicine
- Co-Investigator: Elizabeth Kvale, M.D., MSPH, LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes, Departments of Internal Medicine, Population Health, and Oncology
- Co-Investigator: Daniela De Luca, Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations
CHER Grantee #2: COVID-19: A Social Marketing Approach to Investigating Prevention and Self-Reporting Messages Targeting Underserved BIPOC Populations in Central Texas
- Principal Investigator: Sean Upshaw, Ph.D., Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations
- Co-Investigator: Billy Table, Ph.D., Center for Health Communication and Department of Population Health
2019-2020 CHER Grantees
CHER awarded approximately $20,000 for the third cycle of grant funding.
CHER Grantee #1: Assessing Oncology Patient Communication Needs and Preferences to Improve Informed Treatment Decision-Making
- Principal Investigator: S. Gail Eckhardt, M.D., LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes
- Co-Investigator: Lee Ann Kahlor, Ph.D., Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations
- Co-Investigator: Barbara Jones, Ph.D., MSW, Steve Hicks School of Social Work
- Co-Investigator: Laura Cannon, PharmD, MPH, College of Pharmacy
CHER Grantee #2: Promoting Communication in the Intensive Care Unit Between Nonspeaking Patients and Healthcare Providers
- Principal Investigator: Rajinder Koul, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
- Co-Investigator: Marissa Mery, MD, Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care
2018-2019 CHER Grantees
CHER awarded approximately $20,000 for the second cycle of grant funding.
CHER Grantee #1: Developing Public Health Messaging to Reduce Asthma Disparities
- Principal Investigator: Dr. LeeAnn Kahlor, Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations
- Co-Investigator: Dr. Elizabeth Matsui, Department of Population Health
CHER Grantee #2: Optimizing Messages for Personalized Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
- Principal Investigator: Dr. Marissa Burgermaster, Departments of Population Health and Nutritional Sciences
- Co-Investigator: Dr. Matt McGlone, Department of Communication Studies
- Co-Investigator: Dr. Brandon Allport, Departments of Population Health, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics
2017 – 2018 CHER Grantees
CHER awarded approximately $20,000 in the inaugural 2017-18 grant cycle for three projects.
CHER Grantee #1: Lead Poisoning Prevention in Texas Communities
- Principal Investigator: Dr. Anjum Khurshid, Department of Population Health
- Co-Investigator: Dr. Brad Love, Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations
- Co-Investigator: Dr. Kate Pounders, Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations
CHER Grantee #2: Studying the Effects of Empathetic Healthcare
- Principal Investigator: Dr. David Ring, Departments of Surgery and Perioperative Care and Psychiatry
- Co-Investigator: Dr. Joost Kortlever, Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care
- Co-Investigator: Dr. Laura Brown, Center for Health Communication
CHER Grantee #3: Minority Women’s Enrollment in Clinical Trials
- Principal Investigator: Dr. J Stuart Ferriss
- Co-Investigator: Anita Vangelisti, Department of Communication Studies
- Assistant: Suzanne Burdick, Department of Communication Studies
- Assistant: Stephanie Nutt, Department of Women's Health
