Rebecca Johnson - US grants

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from applicant's abstract) The fundamental goals of this research proposal are to test the hypotheses that: 1) phrenic motor output is enhanced by spinal release of dopamine and consequent activation of D1 receptors in the ventral horn, and 2) chronic cervical deafferentation (cervical dorsal rhizotomy, C3-C5) enhances dopaminergic modulation of phrenic motoneurons. These investigators will provide novel evidence of spinal dopamine-mediated modulation of respiratory motor output. They will also yield insights into dopaminergic mechanisms that may underlie spinal plasticity in respiratory control. The candidate of this application has attained the D.V.M. and M.S. Degrees and advanced training in Veterinary Anesthesiology. This proposal will coincide with achievement of the Ph.D. Degree and will provide a firm foundation for a career as a clinician-scientist capable of an independent research career. Although her past research history is limited, this proposal will develop the scientific techniques and knowledge crucial for becoming an independent scientific investigator. The training environment will be guided toward mentoring the candidate while teaching valuable research techniques necessary to begin an independent research career. The majority of supervision will be provided by Gordon S. Mitchell, an internationally known and respected investigator in the area of neural control of respiration, Professor of Neuroscience, and Professor and Chairman of Comparative Biosciences. The advisory committee will consist of well-respected and highly experienced individuals within the applicant's department, or another institution. The University of Wisconsin provides an outstanding research environment with a large interactive group of scientists interested in respiratory neurobiology. The proposal is designed to provide insights into dopaminergic mechanisms that may underlie spinal plasticity in respiratory control by studying (a) the effect of spinal release of dopamine and subsequent activation of D, receptors in the ventral horn and (b) the effect of chronic cervical deafferentation on enhancement of dopaminergic modulation of phrenic neourons. (End of Abstract)

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Given that the obesity and obesity-related disease epidemic continues to rage in the U.S., there exists a need to examine innovative approaches to its reversal and to facilitate health and fitness among all citizens, but particularly among minorities, who have the highest incidence of obesity-related diseases across age groups. Dog-walking, found to positively influence physical activity, is a focus of the proposed one-day symposium aiming to foster dialogue between investigators and health care practitioners in the human-animal interaction field, resulting in collaborative projects in creative new directions. A vital component of the symposium will be supporting health professionals of minority groups to attend, enabling their participation in the learning and dialogue. The proposed one-time, one-day symposium will be imbedded between the annual conference of the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ), and the first Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) conference sponsored by the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine's Research Center for Human Animal Interaction and Sinclair School of Nursing. The ISAZ is the international group of investigators conducting research in the area of human-animal interaction. The HAI conference will be the first of its kind devoted to information dissemination and dialogue between health care professionals from such fields as nursing, medicine, veterinary medicine, social work, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling. Additional participants in this conference will be those working in animal-related fields such as animal rescue groups, animal shelters, and pet therapy visitation groups. For the symposium proposed in the grant application, plenary speakers who are well-respected in the fields of physical activity, growth and development across the lifespan, and dog-walking will give invited lectures and engage in dialogue with symposium participants. Refereed paper and poster presentations related to the human-animal interaction and physical activity theme for the symposium will be selected by the blind peer review process. Discussion activities such as "speed networking" in which participants move through the group fellow participants in 5-10 minute timed sessions sharing insight and ideas from their own work will be innovative features of the symposium. These activities will be used to foster dialog between participants and speakers so that ideas for new collaborative projects may be germinated. Another major outcome product of the symposium will be a published volume of the papers presented. This will be available to participants, but will also be marketed through online web-pages of numerous human-animal interaction associations and groups. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Given that the obesity and obesity-related disease epidemic continues to rage in the U.S., there exists a need to examine innovative approaches to its reversal and to facilitate health and fitness among all citizens, but particularly among minorities, who have the highest incidence of obesity-related diseases. Dog-walking, found to positively influence physical activity, is a focus of the proposed one-day symposium aiming to foster dialogue between investigators and health care practitioners in the human-animal interaction field, resulting in collaborative projects in creative new directions. A vital component of the symposium will be supporting health professionals of minority groups to attend, enabling their participation in the learning and dialogue.

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall aim of the study is to test the effects of having a specially trained service dog present with children undergoing forensic interviews for child abuse and to ascertain the children's perception of having the dog present. The goal is to identify to what extent children who have the dog present with them during the interview have less fear and physiological reactivity (measured by skin temperature) than children exposed to the usual Standard of Practice. A further goal is to identify whether having the dog present facilitates the interview, lessening the need for second or third interviews. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reported that in the year 2007, more than 3.5 million children underwent Child Protective Service investigations or assessments for abuse (DHHS, 2009). The large numbers of children experiencing potential psychological disability resulting from maltreatment and the legal processes necessary to prosecute perpetrators underscores the need to identify interventions to alleviate children's distress. For these children, there may be a double jeopardy effect in which the child is abused and then must suffer additional psychological distress while undergoing investigation into the alleged crime. A two-year study is proposed using a two-group randomized, repeated measures design in children ages 4-17 who are undergoing forensic interviews for child abuse in Mid-Missouri. The treatment group will interact with a trained service dog before undergoing the forensic interview and be accompanied by the dog during the interview. We will recruit participants from the Ozark Foothills Child Advocacy Center and implement the protocol in the 3 sites in which it conducts forensic interviews. We will collect data with all participants at baseline, 15 minutes later (control group) or immediately aftr interacting with the dog (treatment group), and when the forensic interview is finished. Deliverables from the study include the service dog protocol, and potential benefits to children who participate. The protocol will be made available to investigators and child advocacy groups that would like to begin a similar service dog program. We hope the Missouri program will be a model for programs throughout the U.S. It will meet a need among families with abused children who will experience forensic interviews.