Research Interests
Throughout my research career,, I have had very broad ranging interests in how people cope with and adjust to pain, particularly persistent pain. Understanding coping and adaptation helps us better understand the very significant variations in pain, disability, and suffering in people with similar levels of injury and disease. It also can help guide the development of interventions to enhance coping efforts.
My current research interests center on testing the efficacy and effectiveness of behavioral interventions designed to enhance how people deal with pain (e.g. coping skills training, cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness meditation, acceptance and commitment therapy, yoga-based protocols, weight management, cbt for insomnia). I actively collaborate with researchers conducting NIH-funded studies being conducted here at Duke and elsewhere. Many of those studies are testing brief interventions and novel strategies for delivering training in pain copinng.
My current research interests center on testing the efficacy and effectiveness of behavioral interventions designed to enhance how people deal with pain (e.g. coping skills training, cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness meditation, acceptance and commitment therapy, yoga-based protocols, weight management, cbt for insomnia). I actively collaborate with researchers conducting NIH-funded studies being conducted here at Duke and elsewhere. Many of those studies are testing brief interventions and novel strategies for delivering training in pain copinng.
Selected Grants
Predictors of Pain Severity and Pain-Related Outcomes in Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease
ResearchCo-Mentor · Awarded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · 2023 - 2028Targeting Reinforcement Mechanisms for Smoking Cessation Using Very Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes in Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder and Chronic Pain
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2027Stress Reactivity and Low Back Pain in Older Adults: Influences on Disability (ReLOAD)
Clinical TrialCo-Mentor · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2022 - 2027Web-based Pain Coping Skills Training to Improve Pain and Poor Adherence caused by Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Arthralgia in Breast Cancer Survivors (SKIP-Arthralgia): A Randomized Controlled Trial
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Northwestern University · 2022 - 2027Caregiver-assisted pain coping skills training for dementia
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2026Tailored Non-Pharmacotherapy Services for Chronic Pain: Testing Scalable and Pragmatic Approaches
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute · 2019 - 2025Specific and Shared Mechanisms Associated With Treatment for Chronic Neck Pain
ResearchConsultant · Awarded by Foundation for Physical Therapy · 2023 - 2025Longitudinal Impact of Chronic Pain and its Management on Patient-centered Outcomes in Older Adults
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Massachusetts General Hospital · 2021 - 2025Diversifying and Strengthening Dementia Palliative Care Clinical Trials
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Massachusetts General Hospital · 2022 - 2025Persistent Post-Mastectomy Pain: Randomized Clinical Trial of Targeted Pain Coping Skills Training (Targeted-PCST) with Mediational Analysis
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2025Improving Lung Transplant Outcomes with Coping Skills and Physical Activity
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2025Improving Veteran Access To Integrated Management of Chronic Back Pain (AIM Back)
ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2017 - 2025An mHealth Symptom Management Intervention for Colorectal Cancer Patients
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by American Cancer Society, Inc. · 2021 - 2024A Mobile Health Behavioral Pain Intervention Protocol for Breast Cancer Patients with Pain in Medically Underserved Communities: A Randomized Controlled Trial
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2024Couple Communication Skills Training for Advanced Cancer
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2024Reducing the Transition from Acute to Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain among Older Adults
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill · 2019 - 2024Pain Response Evaluation of a Combined Intervention to Cope Effectively (PRECICE)
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center · 2020 - 2024A Pragmatic Sequenced-strategy for Improving Outcomes in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis Pain
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Johns Hopkins University · 2019 - 2024Improving Symptom Management for Survivors of Young Adult Cancer
ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2024Using Very Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes as a Strategy to Disrupt the Pain-Smoking Reinforcement Cycle
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2021 - 2024UPENN Scientific and Data Research Center for the HOPE Consortium to Reduce Pain and Opioid Use in Hemodialysis
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of Pennsylvania · 2019 - 2024Duke Pain Early-phase Research Clinical Center (PERC)
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2024Implementing and Evaluating mHealth Pain Coping Skills Training Interventions to Improve Self-management of Chronic Pain in Cancer Survivors in "Real World" Clinical Practice Settings
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Wake Forest University School Of Medicine · 2019 - 2023Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Sleep in Cancer
FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2021 - 2023Couple Communication in Cancer: A Multi-method Examination
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Arizona State University · 2016 - 2022Meaning-Centered Pain Coping Skills Training for Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Pilot Trial
ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Palliative Care Research Center · 2020 - 2022Improving Adherence to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2016 - 2022Optimizing Delivery of a Behavioral Cancer Pain Intervention Using a SMART
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2016 - 2022Resilience Measurement, Prediction, and its Role in Older Adults with Late Stage Lung Cancer
ResearchAdvisor · Awarded by Wake Forest University School Of Medicine · 2020 - 2022A Self-Management Intervention for Women with Breast Cancer and Diabetes
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by American Cancer Society, Inc. · 2016 - 2020Caregiver-Assisted Pain Coping Skills Training for Dementia
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Palliative Care Research Center · 2018 - 2020Palliative Care Research Cooperative Group (PCRC): Refinement and Expansion-Administrative Supplement
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus · 2019 - 2020Meaning-centered Psychotherapy and Pain Coping Skills in Advanced Cancer
FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by American Cancer Society, Inc. · 2017 - 2020Development of a Virtual Reality Graded Exposure Intervention for Chronic Low Back Pain
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by The University of Texas at Dallas · 2016 - 2019Caregiver-Guided Pain Management Training in Palliative Care
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2014 - 2019Mechanisms of Psychosocial Chronic Pain Treatment
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Rush University · 2013 - 2019Behavioral Weight and Symptom Management for Breast Cancer Survivors and Partners
FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2015 - 2018Pain Coping Skills Training for African Americans with Osteoarthritis
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill · 2015 - 2018Knee Arthroplasty Pain Coping Skills Training (KASTpain): A Randomized Trial
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Virginia Commonwealth University · 2012 - 2018Coping Skills for Colorectal Cancer Survivors with Pain and Distress
FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by American Cancer Society, Inc. · 2015 - 2018An Accessible Mobile Health Behavioral Intervention for Cancer Pain (mPain)
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by American Cancer Society, Inc. · 2014 - 2018Refinement and Expansion of the Palliative Care Research Cooperative Group
ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2013 - 2018Yoga-based Symptom Management for Metastatic Breast Cancer
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2013 - 2018Everyday Quality of Life in Blacks and Whites with Osteoarthritis
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of Alabama · 2012 - 2017Home-Based Tablet Computer Pain Coping Skills Following Stem Cell Transplant
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2013 - 2015Improving Adherence to Recommended Surveillance in Breast Cancer Survivors
ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2010 - 2015Pain, Distress and Mammography Use in Breast Cancer Patients
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2009 - 2014Telephone-based coping skills training for COPD
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2000 - 2014Coping Skills Training for Spinal Cord Stimulator Patients
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2008 - 2013Understanding Patient Expectations of Treatment Outcomes
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2009 - 2011Stress and Behavior in Health and Disease
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1989 - 2011Training in Psychological Intervention Research
Inst. Training Prgm or CMETraining Faculty · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2006 - 2011IPA - McKee
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Veterans Administration Medical Center · 2010 - 2011Quit-smoking program for lung cancer patients' families
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2003 - 2010Mammography Pain in Breast Cancer Survivors
FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2006 - 2009Biomechanics and Inflammation in Osteoarthritis
ResearchConsultant · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2003 - 2008Caregiver-Assisting Coping Skills Training for Lung Cancer
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2002 - 2008Partner-Assisted Emotional Disclosure for GI Cancer
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2004 - 2008Prostate Cancer Recovery Enhancement (PROCARE) for African American Men
Clinical TrialCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2007 - 2008Coping Skills Training for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2002 - 2007Behavior Analysis of Chronic Low Back Pain
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2005 - 2007Self System Therapy and Chronic Low Back Pain
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2003 - 2007Anxiety, Depression, and Non-Cardiac Chest Pain
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2001 - 2007Gender, Coping, and the Arthritis Pain Experience
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1999 - 2004Gender, Coping and the Arthritis Pain Experience
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1999 - 2003Spouse Guided Pain Management Training for Cancer Pain
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2000 - 2003Fluoxetine And Behavior Therapy In Social Phobia
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1994 - 2002Pain Threshold And Tolerance In Sickle Cell Disease
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1995 - 1999Fluoxetine And Behavior Therapy In Social Phobia
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1993 - 1998Cognitive Behavioral Treatments For Arthritis Pain
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1993 - 1998Cognitive Behavioral Treatments For Arthritis Pain
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1993 - 1998Behavioral Treatment Of Fibromyalgia
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1996 - 1997Cognitive Behavioral Treatment For Arthritis Pain
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1993 - 1997Cognitive Behavioral Teatments For Arthritis Pain
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1993 - 1997Coping With Osteoarthritic Knee Pain
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1991 - 1997Medical Psychologist Member Of Task Force
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Department Of Labor · 1987 - 1988Medical Psychologist Member Of Task Force
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Department Of Labor · 1987 - 1988Coping With Osteoarthritic Knee Pain
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1986 - 1987External Relationships
- Brunel University
This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies, institutions, or organizations listed above. This information is available to institutional leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.