Research

The atrial fibrillation clinic at Ascension Texas Cardiovascular provides a multidisciplinary, holistic and patient-centered approach to the management of atrial fibrillation in patients across Central Texas. The department works closely with the clinic to address all aspects of care for atrial fibrillation, including aggressive lifestyle interventions, rhythm control strategies, stroke management, risk factor modification and more — helping patients feel connected to their care and improving clinical outcomes

The department actively recruits patients for both investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored clinical studies involving wearable devices, artificial intelligence, stroke prevention, catheter ablation and risk factor modification to better understand care for patients with atrial fibrillation.

Jenny Spencer, Ph.D., leads research efforts focused on screening and prevention in cervical cancer, colorectal cancer and breast cancer. This work is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas, and it aims to advance health equity among medically underserved communities.

Additionally, cancer screening and prevention efforts enable close collaboration with Dell Med’s departments of Population Health and Oncology. Related funding to support the department’s focus on cancer screening and prevention comes by way of the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas, the American Cancer Society and UT System Benefits.

The Division of Nephrology holds thirteen clinics each month serving uninsured and underinsured individuals in Travis County. Ongoing research efforts strive to improve access to culturally competent care for this population and build collaborations with Central Health and CommUnityCare Health Centers to optimize care navigation.

The department’s substance abuse screening and treatment programs provide an opportunity for increased identification of patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, supporting work to engage this patient population in appropriate care and develop a liver transplant program.

Cristal Brown, M.D., MHS, leads research initiatives that explore interdisciplinary team management that improves patients’ access to necessary services to increase quality of life and satisfaction with care. This initiative focuses on providing care to all patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma as well as increasing access to palliative care. Work in this space is funded by the Cambia Health Foundation.

Kevin V. Hackshaw, M.D., leads efforts aimed at identification and improving care for individuals with fibromyalgia and related syndromes, as well as hypermobile states, long COVID and other conditions that fall under the umbrella of central sensitization syndromes. Ongoing National Institutes of Health-funded research focuses on development of biomarkers that help identify affected individuals and provide personalized therapeutics for these disorders.

W. Michael Brode, M.D., directs UT Health Austin’s Post-COVID-19 Program, which is the umbrella program that includes the UT Health Austin clinic, Austin long COVID collaborative series, behavioral health services and a platform for ongoing research initiatives focused on long COVID.

Linda A. Feagins, M.D., directs the department’s inflammatory bowel diseases program, which strives to improve the health of patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The multidisciplinary team includes gastroenterologists, surgeons, GI dietitians and behavioral health specialists. The growth of the clinical program has been supported by funding from the Helmsley Charitable Trust.

Research efforts in this space include collaborative projects with partners in the College of Natural Sciences that focus on diet and nutrition in inflammatory bowel disease. Funding support comes by way of Dell Med’s Health Transformation Research Institute as well as Bristol Myers Squibb.

Adewole “Ade” Adamson, M.D., MPP, leads screening efforts focused on patients at high risk of developing melanoma, including those with a personal or family history of melanoma.

Research projects in the department aim to increase timely melanoma diagnosis and care, including access to effective treatment for underserved patients. The American Cancer Society, Dermatology Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Meredith’s Mission for Melanoma, Brown Skin Too Foundation and the National Institutes of Health comprise funding support for melanoma screening efforts.

Trisha Parekh, D.O., M.S., specializes in the care for individuals with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. She leads efforts to reduce health disparities in those with chronic lung diseases.

Research projects in the department aim to identify social determinants of health in COPD that may lead to adverse health outcomes and exacerbate health disparities for medically underserved populations. This work is funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Tara Kaufmann, M.D., MSCE, leads research efforts focused on improving access to timely palliative care services for patients with advanced cancer. Kaufmann focuses on developing and testing electronic patient-reported outcomes and monitoring interventions to facilitate efficient and equitable palliative care referral. This work is funded by the American Cancer Society.