In the fall of 2022, the Data & Design Core welcomed its inaugural cohort comprised of four researchers from across the University of Michigan, who proposed impactful research projects with the potential to advance our understanding of depression and related illnesses. The cohort gathered in November 2022 to share their projects, offer feedback to one another and create connections with their fellow scholars.
Image
2022-2023 inaugural cohort
Aurora Le, Ph.D. M.P.H., C.S.P., C.P.H.
John G. Searle Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, and assistant professor of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health
Project Title: Employment factors associated with opioid misuse and substance use disorder using the National Survey on Drug Use and Health
Dr. Le’s work concentrates on highly infectious disease mitigation and management. Her incubator project will analyze the relationship between the dual COVID-19 and opioid epidemics, employment, and mental health. The project hopes to better understand the efficacy or harm of having drug-free workplace policies on opioid use disorder and opioid misuse.
Read Dr. Le's published manuscript: The Relationship Between Workplace Drug Policies, Opioid Misuse, and Psychological Distress: Evidence From the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, February 8, 2024, Sage Journals
Michael Smith, Pharm.D, B.C.P.S.
Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, and Clinical Pharmacist, Michigan Medicine
Project Title: Relationship of Depression, Centralized Pain & Medication Burden in Older Adults using DataDirect
Dr. Smith's research focuses on the safe and effective use of pain management medication in centralized pain and the appropriate use of medications in vulnerable populations, particularly older adults. His incubator project will investigate the less studied association between depression and centralized pain and the medication burden on the older adult population. The project intends to quantify the medication burden of these diagnoses to understand the prevalence of these comorbid diagnoses and improve medication management for these conditions.
Wei Zhao, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan
Project Title: The direct and indirect genetic effects on depression using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics
Dr. Zhao’s research investigates genomics, aging and retirement, and population health. Her incubator project will examine the heritability of depression and the direct and indirect genetic effects as an underlying risk factor for developing major depressive disorder. The project will investigate how genetic direct, genetic indirect, and non-genetic environmental factors impact depression.
Peter Larson, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research and Adjunct Lecturer in Epidemiology, School of Public Health
Project Title: Climate change and environmental determinants of mental health-related Emergency Department visits
Dr. Larson's research interests include spatial and geographic information system analysis, environmental impact, infectious disease, and health disparities. His incubator project will explore the impact of climate change on mental health incidents requiring hospital-level intervention in older adults. The project will examine the correlation between the effects of climate change and increased risk for acute mental health emergencies.