Two McGovern research projects receive Rice-TMC seed grants
Two McGovern Medical School research projects received seed grants in 2024 through the Provost’s TMC Collaborator Fund. These grants were facilitated by Rice University’s Office for Educational and Research Initiatives for Collaborative Research (ENRICH).
In total, seven research partnerships involving McGovern Medical School, Rice University, the Baker Institute for Public Policy, and other institutions in the Texas Medical Center were funded by the grants.
Established in 2021, the Provost’s TMC Collaborator Fund at Rice is a seed grant program that awards up to $50,000 for multidisciplinary research proposals. The program fosters new collaborative projects with faculty from TMC institutions such as UTHealth Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Memorial Hermann.
“Through this funding opportunity, we aim to promote the development of self-sustaining, nationally competitive research programs that address critically important issues in or relevant to health care,” said Sharon Pepper, executive director of ENRICH.
Futbolito for All: Supporting Active Lifestyles for Latino Children in Galena Park
Primary investigators:
Andrea Ramirez Varela, MD, PhD, MPH, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics
Christopher Kulesza, scholar in child health policy at Rice’s Baker Institute
This research seeks to establish a novel physical activity pilot program, “Futbolito for All.” This soccer-based intervention aims to promote physical activity and sports access for children, specifically targeting Latino youth and low-income communities. Using a mixed methods approach, data will be collected through surveys and focus groups involving teachers, administrators, parents, and students. The study will assess the program’s immediate impact and its potential for large-scale adoption and sustained benefits within the Galena Park Independent School District population.
A Mechanistic Framework for Optimal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Application to Pediatric Stroke Survivors with Arm Impairment
Primary Investigators:
Stuart Fraser, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics
Raudel Avila, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Rice University
This research collaboration, initiated by the inaugural Meeting of the Minds event organized by the Rice Neuroengineering Initiative and Rice ENRICH, combines engineering modeling, clinical imaging and clinical trials to develop a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a therapy for children recovering from pediatric cerebrovascular disease (stroke). tDCS is a safe and noninvasive technique that uses very small electrical currents (1-4 milliamperes) to modulate brain activity through the scalp.
To read about the rest of the grants, visit the ENRICH website.