Faculty Research Societal Impact Profiles
A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN Elizabeth A. Dolan Lehigh University’s College of Health faculty channel their expertise toward a shared mission: improving the health of individuals, communities and populations. Our dynamic research teams bring together faculty, graduate and postdoctoral students, undergraduate students and community members in powerful collaboration. Deeply rooted in understanding the multiple determinants of health, equipped with expertise in data science and technology and grounded in understanding how health systems truly work, the College of Health is committed to creating meaningful, lasting impact—from our home in Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley and beyond to communities across the globe. The following faculty profiles showcase our social impact across five transformative areas: Culture and Community. We forge authentic partnerships with communities to tackle their highest priorities. Effective interventions emerge when they are culturally relevant and when community members serve as full partners in development, implementation and evaluation. Data-Driven Innovation. We harness biostatistics, health data science and AI to extract actionable insights from complex health data and pioneer technologies that empower people to navigate life with greater agency and dignity. Economy. We improve social determinants of health by strengthening communities’ economic foundations, because we know economic stability directly drives individuals’ physical and mental health. Education. We champion education—particularly health education—because research shows education opens pathways to healthier lives. Policy. Government policy shapes population health outcomes. We rigorously research realworld effects of proposed and implemented policies, producing evidence-based insights that promote health and well-being for all. Ready to make an impact together? If you are interested in collaborating with our faculty or partnering with the College, we’d love to hear from you. 2
RESEARCH GROWTH IN THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH All College of Health faculty are actively engaged in ongoing research—both funded and unfunded—that addresses pressing public health challenges. Their work drives innovation, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and generates real-world solutions that improve health outcomes and advance health equity locally and globally. 100% Engaged in ongoing research 38% Proposal success rate $21M Total dollars awarded since 2020 3
124 East Morton Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015 Contact Us! Email: inrsrch@lehigh.edu Phone: (610) 758-1800 health.lehigh.edu/research-partners Here at the College of Health, we promote health equity by forging unconventional connections between diverse fields, prioritizing real-world impact in our research and educating students through experience. Through community partnership and innovation in applied technology, the College of Health strives to advance health and well-being for all. Transforming the Future of Health 4
A Guide to the College of Health’s Research Themes Threads of Impact: POLICY EDUCATION CULTURE AND COMMUNITY ECONOMY DATA DRIVEN INNOVATION As you read the following pages, you will step into a world shaped by discovery, determination and a vision for a healthier, more equitable future. This is the story of the College of Health—a place where research is more than data and findings, it is a force for change, woven with care and purpose into the fabric of society. Throughout the pages you will encounter five guiding themes. Think of them as your compass, symbols that appear beside each section to help you navigate the ideas, innovations and impact of our faculty’s work. These themes do not live in silos; they intertwine, connect and amplify one another. They echo through every faculty project, forming a vibrant tapestry of thought and action. Together, they represent what makes the College of Health not only unique, but boldly forward-thinking. 5
The Problem Parents and caregivers of children needing pediatric palliative care (PPC) or hospice care (HC) often struggle to find and access local resources. Healthcare providers may also be unaware of available PPC and HC. To improve access and awareness, Dr. Daley and colleagues used Mapme© and REDCap© to identify, examine and catalog PPC and HC resources across Pennsylvania. The Approach This resourceful project builds on multiple recent initiatives led by Dr. Daley and the Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition of Pennsylvania. It leverages two web-based platforms— Mapme© and REDCap©—to identify and organize available pediatric palliative care (PPC) and hospice care (HC) resources. The goal is to improve awareness and access to PPC and HC services for parents, caregivers and clinicians across Pennsylvania. Expanding Access to Pediatric Palliative Care for Caregivers Short Term Impact Data collected from clinicians and caregivers to inform publicly accessible resource databases in Pennsylvania. The data also supported the creation of an interactive MapMe© resource map. Longer Term Impact Pediatric palliative care groups in two states are seeking to replicate the surveys and maps, with Dr. Daley and colleagues actively supporting these efforts. Societal Impact Funding will support the expansion of a webbased initiative that improves access to pediatric palliative and hospice care resources across Pennsylvania. This project enhances the accessibility of critical support services for families, caregivers and clinicians. Grounded in principles of equity and accessibility, the initiative offers societal benefits in the following areas: Community/Culture: Help patients, families, caregivers and providers access local resources. “When you have a chronically ill or terminally ill child, every ounce of energy is devoted to caring for the basic life needs of your child, so finding and obtaining resources, no matter how important they may be, is often an overwhelming and exhausting task for the parents and caregivers of children receiving palliative and/or hospice care.” Sean M. Daley, PhD, MA Data Driven Innovation: Web-based software to enhance access to health care resources. For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 6
Data Driven Innovation: Using advanced geospatial technologies to improve public health. Policy: Promote healthcare access with improved understanding of access barriers. Community/Culture: Enhanced disease surveillance for early detection to protect vulnerable communities. The Problem Dr. Delmelle’s research focuses on the intersection of public health and spatial epidemiology. Key areas: Detecting space-time clusters of infectious diseases (e.g., COVID-19, dengue). Examining how residential mobility affects disease transmission. Optimizing healthcare facility placement for vulnerable populations. Developing computational tools for environmental health monitoring. The Approach To address these challenges, the committed research team will develop methodological innovations to advance spatial analysis and parallel computing through: Web-based tools: interactive GIS platforms for disease surveillance and health monitoring. Mixed-methods: combining quantitative spatial analysis with qualitative approaches. Interdisciplinary collaboration: working with experts across disciplines. Detecting Infectious Diseases Using Spatial Epidemiology For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu “Advancing geospatial approaches to improve health surveillance and environmental monitoring.” Eric Delmelle, PhD Short Term Impact Spatial analysis methods for identifying environmental health risks. Training next-generation researchers in geospatial health. Data visualization techniques for COVID-19 surveillance. Longer Term Impact Advanced computational methods in spatial epidemiology. Improved understanding of environmental determinants of health. More effective healthcare facility placement approaches. Societal Impact Funding for this research supports an innovative approach to generating information on disease detection, benefiting communities affected by health access disparities. This work has societal benefits in the following areas: 7
The Problem People with disabilities make up 25% of the population, yet most urban spaces are inaccessible and exclusionary. Many disabled individuals, especially those unemployed, have few social connections beyond paid caregivers. Inaccessible cities limit opportunities for social interaction, worsening isolation and health risks. Small cities face greater challenges due to fewer resources and weaker community ties. The Approach To address this challenge, Dr. Duncan and his colleagues are conducting pilot research using a pragmatic approach comprising: Three community mapping workshops with up to 20 disabled participants and their friends and families in diverse settings in Bethlehem. 30 ethnographic interviews with 10 disabled residents and 20 friends and family members. Social Network Analysis to assess the quality, frequency and location of social connections among disabled residents in Bethlehem. Advancing Connection and Well-Being for Disabled Communities “As a disabled health social scientist, my academic mission is to help the disabled to improve their lives by countering the discrimination, exclusion and injustice they face.” Austin Duncan, PhD, MPA Short Term Impact Amplify the voices of disabled communities through a public forum. Help disabled individuals understand how urban spaces and social connections impact health and well-being. Longer Term Impact Examine how urban environments influence social connections for disabled individuals. Support cities in making urban spaces more accessible and inclusive. Societal Impact Funding for this research will support efforts to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of urban environments for disabled individuals in small cities. The project will examine how urban spaces shape social connection and well-being and provide recommendations to city officials. This committed work offers societal benefits in the following areas: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 8 Policy: Recommendations to help cities create more inclusive spaces for disabled individuals. Community/Culture: Strengthen social connections for disabled individuals.
The Problem Outdoor air pollution is a major risk factor for lower respiratory infection, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also referred to as chronic respiratory syndrome (CRS). In 2020, Pennsylvania had the highest excess mortality due to air pollution in the U.S. The Lehigh Valley, especially Allentown, ranks among the worst U.S. metro areas for asthma risk. To address this, we will develop the Pennsylvania Asthma-COPD Syndromic Surveillance (PASS) system. PASS will integrate secondary data to identify health vulnerabilities and environmental risks contributing to CRS. The Approach To address this challenge, Dr. Choi and her colleagues: Will determine the burden of poor air quality on chronic respiratory syndrome across Pennsylvania Will build a syndromic surveillance system of CRS hotspots by combining air quality data with information from underserved local populations (e.g., health, social and resource disparities) Pennsylvania Asthma-COPD Syndromic Surveillance System “Data paves a pathway to a seat at the table.” - Hyunok Choi, PhD Short Term Impact Create an early-warning system will help prevent outbreaks from overwhelming healthcare systems Distinguish air pollution risks from structural disparities to guide policy Longer Term Impact Identify fossil fuel-related CRS to define pathways driving disease development Clarify the sources of vulnerability among nonwhite racial/ethnic subgroups by examining how systematic disparities and environmental toxicants interact Societal Impact Funding for this research will support the development of the PASS system to integrate data to anticipate CRS outbreaks, protect vulnerable populations and reduce the burden on healthcare systems. This work offers societal benefits in the following areas: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 9 Community/Culture: Build citizen awareness of environmental health, justice and climate resilience. Policy: Translate scientific findings into coordinated action by citizens and local government stakeholders. Education: Foster leadership through education in environmental health, justice, and climate change.
The Problem There are 7.3 million older adult immigrants (including refugees) in the U.S. By 2060, this population is expected to grow to 22 million. Older refugees face greater challenges than other older adults, including preresettlement trauma, language barriers, family stress, social isolation, employment difficulties and limited access to health care. These challenges are linked to poor mental health outcomes. The Approach To address these challenges, a multidisciplinary community-based participatory research team will: Use qualitative methods to explore social support as a protective factor for older Bhutanese-American refugees’ mental health. Conduct a three-year longitudinal study to assess links between war-related trauma, current risk/protective factors and older adults' mental health. Assess Bhutanese caregivers’ mental health over three years and examine its connection to the mental health of older Bhutanese adults. Use qualitative methods to explore the experiences and needs of older BhutaneseAmerican caregivers. The Impact of Forced Displacement on Aging Adult Mental Health “My goal is to be of service to communities and work in partnership with them to address their most pressing health needs.” - Rochelle Frounfelker, ScD Societal Impact Funding for this research will fuel a committed and principled investigation aimed at increasing understanding of forced displacement's impact on mental health, informing effective interventions for aging refugees and reducing health disparities among aging immigrants. This research has societal benefits in the following areas: Short Term Impact Create employment and educational opportunities for Bhutanese-American community members. Identify health needs of aging immigrants and caregivers in Pennsylvania. Longer Term Impact Understand how forced displacement affects long-term mental health. Inform multi-level interventions to support aging refugees’ psychosocial well-being. For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 10 Community/Culture: Develop culturally-tailored interventions to improve mental health among aging Bhutanese immigrants. Policy: Advocate for policies that fund services for aging immigrants to reduce health disparities.
The Problem Dementia affects over 55 million people worldwide and is a growing public health crisis. Early signs often go undetected and current diagnostic methods are costly, timeconsuming and not scalable. Many tools lack cultural and linguistic inclusivity, causing disparities in diagnosis and care. There is a critical need for accessible, noninvasive and explainable methods to detect early motor-cognitive changes before clinical dementia develops. The Approach To address these challenges, this project will use an adaptable research approach to: Collect data from adults 50+ on fine motor control, pen pressure, rhythm and visuospatial skills via handwriting, drawing and touchscreen tasks. Develop interpretable machine learning models using explainable AI to detect early cognitive decline. Create data-driven protocols that account for handwriting, education and writing system variations to ensure generalizability and effectiveness for diverse community screening. Towards Early Dementia Detection Using Biomarkers “Detecting the signs of neurodegeneration early, affordably and understandably is not just a technological milestone, it is a public health imperative.” Gideon K. Gogovi, PhD Short Term Impact Advance early detection protocols using motorcognitive signals. Provide clinicians with interpretable tools for dementia risk assessment. Generate an open-access dataset of annotated motor-cognitive behaviors from diverse adults 50+. Longer Term Impact Establish new digital motor-cognitive biomarkers for early dementia detection. Guide proactive, targeted interventions to delay or reduce cognitive decline. Foster interdisciplinary collaboration. Societal Impact Funding for this research will support the advancement of resourceful tools for the early detection of cognitive decline using motor-cognitive signals. The project combines data-driven modeling and explainable AI to improve dementia risk assessment and inform targeted interventions. This work offers societal benefits in the following areas: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 11 Data Driven Innovation: Integrates interpretable machine learning in AI-based cognitive health. Community/Culture: Advances inclusive protocols for early dementia detection across diverse populations.
The Problem The U.S., despite its wealth, faces persistent racial, geographic and economic inequalities in food access. Scholars argue for recognizing food security and access to nutritious food as a basic human right. The U.S. supports human rights globally through the United Nations. However, it does not recognize the right to food security in its constitution. In contrast, many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) lead in formally recognizing this right. The Approach The primary objectives of this study are to: Explore what the U.S. can learn from LMIC countries when striving to achieve access to nutritious food as a human right. Examine the countries of Mexico, Brazil and South Africa in this project. Illustrate how a diverse methodological approach, combining the advantages of qualitative methods, can be used to better explain this process. Food as a Right: What Can We Learn from the World “This research highlights what our government and community leaders can learn from other countries in adopting the right to food within our constitution and policies.” Eduardo J. Gómez, PhD Short Term Impact Produce case studies and a policy brief. Longer Term Impact Analyze political, institutional and social factors enabling LMICs to adopt the right to food. Societal Impact Funding for this research will support an inquiry into what the U.S. can learn from LMICs in recognizing access to nutritious food as a human right. The study offers societal benefits in the following area: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 12 Policy: Create detailed case studies and a policy brief on factors enabling LMICs to adopt the right to food.
The Problem In the U.S., approximately 100,000 people are on the waiting list for lifesaving organ transplants. There is a severe shortage of human organs available for transplantation. Xenotransplantation offers a potential solution by using organs from other species, such as pigs. This project explores the ethical issues related to clinical trials involving genetically modified pig kidneys for human transplant recipients. The Approach To address this challenge, Dr. Gusmano and his colleagues from the Hastings Center, Northwestern University and Vanderbilt University: Conducted a survey with 142 kidney transplant candidates at two transplant centers. Conducted in-depth interviews with: 28 kidney transplant candidates at two transplant centers 28 transplant experts 23 Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and other research ethics experts Informing Ethical Translation of Xenotransplantation Clinical Trial “Our research will help to address the ethical challenges faced by those conducting, governing and participating in pig kidney clinical trials.” - Michael Gusmano, PhD Short Term Impact Equip IRBs and clinical transplant teams with tools to navigate the ethical challenges of pig kidney clinical trials. Empower clinical trial participants with resources to make informed decisions. Longer Term Impact Provide ethical guidance to researchers and policymakers for xenotransplantation research. Enhance public understanding of the FDA’s expanded access/compassionate use program. Societal Impact Funding for this research supports vital information and ethical guidance for pig kidney clinical trials, which is essential for addressing the severe shortage of organs for patients on the waiting list. This study has societal benefits in the following areas: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 13 Community/Culture: Contribute to efforts to address the shortage of organs for patients with end-stage renal disease. Policy: Advocate for health care policies that promote the ethical conduct of xenotransplantation research. Education: Develop educational materials for IRBs, research teams, clinical trial participants and patients.
The Problem Across medicine, public health and environmental science, experts and instruments often provide evaluations or measurements of the same thing (e.g., disease diagnoses, medical image ratings or air quality readings). Decisions based on these ratings depend on how much the raters agree. Traditional agreement measures can give misleading results, which can lead to flawed conclusions, wasted resources and poor policy decisions. There is a critical need for agreement measures that are accurate, interpretable and work for modern datasets. The Approach To address this need, Dr. Hughes developed Neural Bayes Agreement (NBA), a new statistical method that: Uses a flexible model to represent agreement between multiple raters. Employs advanced Bayesian and neural network techniques to make the method usable with complex data. Works in diverse settings and is designed for use by researchers, clinicians, policy analysts and data scientists who need trustworthy agreement statistics. Improving the Science of Measuring Agreement "I create statistical tools that help scientists answer the question: ‘How much can we trust these measurements?’ Better agreement measures mean better science, better policy and better outcomes." - John P. Hughes, PhD Short Term Impact Provided a reliable, reproducible way to measure agreement in challenging real-world data. Demonstrated improved accuracy over widely used alternatives. Released as open-source R and Julia software for wide use. Longer Term Impact Improve the quality and trustworthiness of research across fields. Support more cost-effective decision-making Improve public trust by ensuring reported agreement reflects reality. Societal Impact Funding for this research will advance access to this new statistical method, allowing for the improved interpretation of complex health data in diverse settings. This work offers societal benefits in the following areas: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 14 Data Driven Innovation: Show how advanced statistics and machine learning can solve longstanding problems. Policy: Guide evidence-based policies in healthcare, public health and environmental protection. Education: Offer a compelling way of thinking about agreement that can improve statistical practice.
The Problem Individuals with neurological disorders often face challenges of loss of independence due to motor and non-motor impairments and dysfunctions, and thus need ongoing rehabilitation and assistance in the community. These patients may struggle with community mobility, daily life activities, walking, and balancing as well as cognitive impairments, leading to reduced quality of life and increased burden to their caregivers, partners, and families. The Approach & Population My research focuses on developing wearable and AI-powered digital health solutions to help individuals with neurological disorders, especially stroke patients and patients with Parkinson’s disease, in their rehabilitation therapies as well as in the community. My research group works on the following research topics: designing and validating smart wearable devices and sensor systems to improve their gait and balance clinical outcomes to increase their independence in living. developing wearable-derived digital biomarkers and predictive AI for remote patient monitoring on functional outcomes, such as their mobility and daily activities, as well as abnormal pain and effectiveness of medication and intervention. Societal Impact I aim to advance patient health through interdisciplinary approaches that integrate engineering, health, and clinical knowledge to develop, validate, and translate wearable and AIpowered digital health solutions to support clinicians in decision-making and assist patients in the clinic and community. Wearable-derived Digital Biomarkers and Predictive AI “I look forward to working with other Lehigh faculty to collaborate on projects, community partners to test our technologies, and donors to collaborate with us in improving clinical and functional outcomes for individuals with Parkinson’s and stroke and transform their health with wearables and AI.” - Rui Hua, PhD Short Term Impact My previous and current work includes: ·Smart wearable device: development and validation of smart insoles to help patients with Parkinson’s disease in gait analysis, falling risk estimation, automating clinical tests, as well as daily activity monitoring. We partnered with the local community, including a support group at the church, as well as the Rocksteady boxing gym, to conduct this research. Our work has been featured in national and global media such as IEEE Spectrum. Remote patient monitoring: development of novel digital biomarker – wearable-derived biorhythms and predictive AI to identify postoperative complications early. This work is featured by numerous news outlets, such as the Washington Post. Longer Term Impact Working closely with Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital in the Lehigh Valley and other clinical or community partners, my research will develop, validate and translate the wearable and AI-powered digital health solutions into real-world benefit to patients in their rehabilitation and daily life. For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 15 Data Driven Innovation: Establish the connection between social interaction & relationships and health & well-being, improving community health outcomes. Community/Culture: Help the disabled improve their social connections, benefitting them, their friends and families, and those around them.
The Problem Community gardens improve food access, build community pride and preserve green space. They are most effective when led inclusively, reflect cultural history and support economic development. Such practices are rarely used in school garden programs. Broughal Middle School’s work with the College of Health offers a chance to explore sustainable, school-based gardens that support student and community well-being. The Approach To address these questions, Dr. Jackson, in collaboration with colleagues, school leadership, and community partners, cocreated a 12-week gardening and plant therapy (GPT) program for students at Broughal Middle School in Bethlehem, PA. This pilot study: Supports students with social-emotional learning and environmental education. Celebrates local culture and foodways through a food justice lens. Assesses program feasibility and implementation. Collects preliminary survey and qualitative data on program impact. A Gardening and Plant Therapy Program at Broughal Middle School Short Term Impact Build reciprocal community partnerships, support local leadership and hire a community-based Program Coordinator. Promote student mental health through plant therapy. Longer Term Impact Strengthen community belonging and civic engagement. Highlight best practices and challenges in schoolbased greenhouse programs. Develop a GPT curriculum with the Program Director. Societal Impact Funding for this research will support the creation of a school-based Gardening and Plant Therapy program co-created with community partners. The project integrates social-emotional learning, environmental education and food justice to support student well-being. This work offers societal benefits in the following areas: "Community-based participatory research/my research centers reciprocal relationships between the university and the local community—learning and doing happens in the most beautiful ways in our city when faculty/students and local residents become trusted partners and committed neighbors." - Kate Jackson, PhD For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 16 Community/Culture: Unites youth and community to grow together while honoring Indigenous knowledge and celebrating diverse food stories. Education: Develop program to enhance student mental health and environmental connection.
The Problem Gender-diverse Muslims in the United States face unique and intersecting forms of stigma (e.g., transphobia, Islamophobia, racism, and racialization/ethnicization). These layered experiences often isolate individuals from both their religious and broader social communities, which leads to negative mental health outcomes and decreased access to affirming care. The Approach To address this challenge, Dr. Jibriel will: Utilize national data from the U.S. Transgender Survey to examine patterns of religious engagement, family dynamics (support, acceptance, rejection, disclosure), and mental health (psychological distress and suicidal outcomes). Apply Minority Stress Theory and intersectionality to identify structural and interpersonal determinants of mental health. Conduct community-engaged participatory research to co-create inclusive public health knowledge. Advance a strengths-based research agenda that bridges religion, gender, and health to examine how faith-based belonging and community resilience promote wellbeing among marginalized populations. Community/Culture: Bridges faith-based communities and public health to reduce stigma and promote belonging among gender-diverse Muslims. Religion and Gender as Social Determinants of Health Short Term Impact Provided evidence that both participation in affirming religious communities and supportive family relationships can mitigate minority stress and enhance mental health outcomes. Build initial collaborations with community organizations with the goal of applying research findings toward inclusive, culturally grounded mental health practices. Longer Term Impact Findings from this research will inform future community-based interventions that promote resilience and belonging among gender-diverse Muslims. With expanded funding and collaboration, this research has the opportunity to shape national conversations around religion and public health equity, which can better prepare and train providers in inclusive faithsensitive care and culturally grounded mental health programs. Societal Impact Funding will support research that enhances our understanding of how faith and family function as social determinants of health, which can guide more equitable and inclusive approaches to care. This research provides actionable insights that inform inclusive health and social policies attentive to the interactions of religion, identity, and health. "For many, faith can be a source of resilience, belonging, and healing, if communities and systems make space for it. Advancing this research requires continued investment in evidence-based approaches that address the intersection of religion, identity, and health. This work can inform policy, guide intervention design, and strengthen the capacity of public health systems to serve diverse populations with cultural and contextual precision.” - Mohammed Jibriel, PhD For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 17
The Problem Millions in the U.S. face addictions and chronic health conditions, imposing significant costs on individuals, families and taxpayers. These challenges lead to high costs, straining public resources. Dr. Khan’s work leverages AI-driven digital health solutions to expand access to preventative care nationwide. The goal is to shift from costly, reactive treatments to proactive, equitable strategies that promote wellness and opportunity for all. The Approach Dr. Khan develops systems using cellphones and wearable-based systems that: Use AI and smart wearable devices to expand access to health tools. Use advanced AI to detect early warning signs, reducing healthcare costs for families, communities and taxpayers. Use real-time data to deliver personalized, adaptive nudges that meet individuals where they are, while promoting equitable care. Use individualized health pattern analysis to tailor interventions that address persistent disparities and diverse needs. Empowering Proactive Health Using Data and Artificial Intelligence “By integrating AI, continuous health monitoring and personalized digital tools, this work champions preventative care as a path to healthier, more equitable futures for all Americans and ensuring that no one is left behind.” - Bilal Khan, PhD Short Term Impact Empowers individuals and families to cultivate healthy habits through AI solutions. Reduces immediate health risks by using data science to inform, educate and inspire positive lifestyle changes. Longer Term Impact Develop AI-driven systems that provide personalized health coaching while strengthening communities and improving access for all. Societal Impact Support for this research enables the deployment of AI-driven digital health solutions that provide early detection and personalized support, reducing healthcare costs and shifting the focus from costly reactive care to proactive, community-empowering approaches. This research has societal benefits in these areas: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 18 Community/Culture: Building healthier communities by advancing a culture of prevention and responsibility. Economy: Supports healthy, active lifestyles to strengthen the workforce and lower healthcare costs through prevention.
The Problem Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, an “infodemic” of conflicting information spread across social media. Health professionals, trusted for accurate medical information, posted COVID-19 tweets reflecting personal politics, values and emotions like fear and anger. Such messaging risks politicizing science, increasing public confusion, eroding trust in experts and fueling misinformation. The Approach To address these challenges, Dr. Lee applied a multi-method computational analysis of COVID19 tweets from self-identified health professionals on social media: Collected and analyzed over 7 million tweets, isolating 41,000 from about 9,600 health professionals in early 2020. Used text, social network and sentiment analysis to identify key topics: political clusters and emotions. Explored how negative sentiments and political views in professionals’ tweets might influence public trust, understanding and behavior during the pandemic. Understanding Early Pandemic Health Communication “My goal is to improve how we communicate health information by using computational modeling and big data to promote clear, trusted and inclusive public dialogue.” Hsuan-Wei “Wayne” Lee, PhD Short Term Impact Showed early pandemic expert tweets were influenced by political polarization, highlighting misinformation risks. Showed real-time sentiment and network analysis can track expert communication. Longer Term Impact Promote ethical social media use by encouraging clear, accurate health communication. Advance data-driven strategies for timely outbreak and “infodemic” management. Societal Impact Funding for this research will support innovative use of real-time sentiment and network analysis to leverage social media for health communication. It aims to advance data-driven “infodemic” management, ensuring timely delivery of accurate health information. This work offers societal benefits in the following areas: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 19 Policy: Shapes guidelines to ensure public health messages on social media are accurate and unbiased. Data Driven Innovation: Harnesses advanced analytical methods to produce transparent insights. Community/Culture: Delivering clearer health information, boosting overall health equity and trust.
The Problem Nearly 90% of U.S. adults struggle with health literacy, especially nutrition literacy. Many lack the skills to make informed food choices or understand nutrition’s health impact. This widespread deficiency contributes to obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Traditional nutrition education often relies on passive information rather than practical decision-making skills needed for today’s complex food environment. The Approach To address these challenges, this project: Has developed Healthy Choice, an AIenhanced, theory-driven simulation platform designed to improve nutrition literacy. Provides immersive learning scenarios, using generative AI, where users analyze nutrition information and make evidencebased decisions. Will expand to reach broader populations including high school students, adults with chronic health conditions and community health program participants. Enhancing Nutrition Literacy Through AI-Enhanced Simulation “Technology has tremendous potential to bridge critical gaps in health literacy. My research creates intelligent learning and training environments that transform how people engage with health information and ultimately improve their wellbeing.” - Shan Li, PhD Short Term Impact Disseminate Healthy Choice widely and evaluate its effectiveness. Provide an accessible tool to build practical nutrition literacy for all. Generate data on nutrition decision-making and AI-supported learning. Longer Term Impact Guide design of effective tech-based nutrition education for diverse groups. Serve as a model for AI-assisted health literacy modules. Societal Impact Funding will support the dissemination of Healthy Choice, an AI-enhanced simulation platform that builds nutrition literacy. By combining personalized learning with real-world decision-making scenarios, the project strengthens practical skills and insights to improve nutrition education. The project offers societal benefits in the following areas: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 20 Community/Culture: Helping individuals develop practical nutrition literacy skill. Policy: Advocate for policies that promote innovative approaches to health literacy development. Education: Transforming nutrition education into active, technology-enhanced skill development.
The Problem Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is anticipated to become a leading cause of death worldwide within the next decade. Addressing AMR requires a multi-sectoral One-Health approach, which includes human, animal, and environmental reservoirs. The Approach Dr. Liguori and her undergraduate students are working on a study to: Collect water samples from environments local to the Lehigh Valley and abroad. Assess the use of lab technologies designed for low-resource field applications and compare their usability and result quality to best practice methods in the U.S. Conduct qualitative surveys with residents on knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices surrounding AMR and antibiotics. Short Term Impact Train 3-6 undergraduate students per year in sterile methods, bacterial culture, and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Conduct literature reviews and synthesize metadata. Quantify background levels of AMR organisms, such as E. coli, in surface waters. Community/Culture: Identify gaps in knowledge amongst students in the Lehigh Valley and design outreach interventions to address them. Policy: Advocate for regulations that limit the uses of antibiotics and reduce environmental discharge of effluents with the potential to exacerbate AMR. Education: Train undergraduate students at Lehigh in laboratory skills, research methods, literature review, and science communications. When Pollution Meets Pathogens: Environmental Drivers of Antimicrobial Resistance “Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a rapidly growing threat to human health and the environment—we must coordinate on multisectoral approaches to stop the spread now.” Krista Liguori , PhD Longer Term Impact Contribute to the knowledge base on the variability of background levels of AMR found circulating in surface waters in the U.S. Improve residents’ understandings of antibiotic use and AMR as a public health and environmental problem. Societal Impact Funding for this research will support efforts to train undergraduate students at Lehigh in laboratory skills, research methods, literature review, and more. Additionally, this study will help identify gaps in knowledge amongst the Lehigh Valley. This work has societal benefits in the following areas: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 21
The Problem Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women in the United States. Preeclampsia often presents as new-onset hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. Some women experiencing preeclampsia may develop eclampsia, a life-threatening condition that involves seizures and coma. Preeclampsia/eclampsia disproportionally affects non-Hispanic black women. While 4% non-Hispanic white women experience preeclampsia or eclampsia in child deliveries, the number for non-Hispanic black women is 7%. Moreover, black women were more likely than women of other races/ethnicities to have a more severe diagnosis such as eclampsia and severe preeclampsia. The Approach To address this challenge, Dr. Liu and his colleagues will evaluate the importance of both maternal clinical factors and race/ethnicity in predicting the occurrence of preeclampsia or eclampsia using electronic medical record (EMR) data from a large integrated health system in the US. The team will: Assess whether race/ethnicity is an independent risk factor controlling for maternal clinical characteristics. Establish a preeclampsia/eclampsia risk index that include maternal clinical characteristics, race/ethnicity, and other sociodemographic factors. Incorporate the risk model into the EMR to inform clinical decision making in real time. Community/Culture: Enhance clinicians’ screening practices and inform targeted mitigation strategies for women at higher risk of preeclampsia and eclampsia, while addressing and reducing the effects of systemic racism on healthcare delivery and health outcomes. Policy: Advocate for regulations that limit the uses of antibiotics and reduce environmental discharge of effluents with the potential to exacerbate AMR Develop a Preeclampsia/eclampsia Risk Index to Reduce Racial Disparities “To unleash the great potential of big data in healthcare, we need to create the opportunities for clinicians and researchers to work together to generate actionable insights.” Xinliang (Albert) Liu, PhD Short Term Impact While a growing body of literature has begun to shine light on the risk factors, including race/ethnicity, for developing preeclampsia during pregnancy, our research will assess how race/ethnicity affects the occurrence of preeclampsia/eclampsia using EMR data from the United States. Building the risk model on a heterogeneous population that is more representative of the US patient population will make the risk assessment tool more generalizable and accurate. Longer Term Impact Our findings will inform the development of a risk assessment score based on clinical and race/ethnicity factors that can be incorporated in the patient dashboard. Clinicians can receive real-time feedback once an expectant mother with a high risk of developing preeclampsia/eclampsia is detected, which will directly improve the care of at-risk patients. Societal Impact This study has societal benefits in these domains: Health: Preeclampsia/eclampsia can lead to devastating maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. This research effort can potentially alleviate the racial disparities in the burden of preeclampsia/eclampsia. This research will impact the community in the following areas: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 22
The Problem Influenza leads to an average of 425,000 hospitalizations and 32,000 deaths annually in the U.S. Public health officials need more accurate, real-time and forward-looking forecasts to prepare for outbreaks. Existing surveillance and modeling approaches often fall short. This project evaluates whether combining expert judgment with participatory modeling can capture behavioral dynamics and improve disease forecast accuracy. The Approach To address these challenges, this project will: Partner with public health officials, epidemiologists and clinicians to study decision-making and behavioral dynamics around seasonal influenza. Collect qualitative data, surveys and temporal probabilistic density forecasts from participants. Develop DECISIONCAST: the first platform to capture expert-generated probabilistic trajectories of key influenza indicators. Improving Flu Forecasts with a User-Driven Prediction Platform “The forecasting and modeling community is a close-knit group of people who are passionate about improving public health associated with influenza. It is important to me that I use my skills and training in applied mathematics and statistics to improve the health of others.” Thomas McAndrew, PhD Short Term Impact Participants will improve forecasting by blending human judgment with computational models. Their input will produce more accurate influenza hospitalization forecasts. Longer Term Impact DECISIONCAST produces forecasts matching existing model accuracy and delivers tailored insights to support public health decisions. Societal Impact Funding will support DECISIONCAST, a platform that integrates surveillance data and expert judgment to improve influenza forecasting. By combining real-time data with human insights, it enhances the accuracy and supports evidencebased public health decisions. The project offers societal benefits in the following areas: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 23 Community/Culture: Advance population health by creating more accurate epidemic forecasting tools. Policy: Public health policymakers can make rapid decisions to lessen epidemic impacts. Education: DECISIONCAST educates public health on producing and combining forecasts into one.
The Problem Spending time in parks and green spaces improves mental and physical health, and brings people together. In many U.S. cities, lower-income and minoritized groups have less access to these health-promoting spaces. Philadelphia has more than 42,000 vacant lots, many of which could be turned into neighborhood parks. Nearly 20% of these vacant lots are publicly owned. The Approach To address these challenges, Dr. McIntire and colleagues at Jefferson University and the University of Pennsylvania will study the Park in a Truck (PiaT) initiative, a participatory model that helps Philadelphia communities build neighborhood parks and train local youth to maintain them. Their research includes: Semi-structured interviews with youth about their roles and health benefits. Photo-elicitation activities capturing youth reflections on park activities. Surveys among youth on health behaviors, stress, self-esteem and community perceptions. Participatory Park Building and Maintenance among Urban Youth: The Park-in-a-Truck Initiative Transforming vacant lots into community-designed parks to improve youth mental health, safety and community connection Russell K. McIntire, PhD, MPH Short Term Impact The PiaT initiative empowers communities to design, build and maintain their own parks. Offers youth safe spaces to relax, socialize and connect with nature. Transforms vacant lots into valued neighborhood assets. Longer Term Impact Assess PiaT’s effects on youth mental health, safety and belonging. Evaluate PiaT’s impact on community health. Promote PiaT for expansion to other U.S. cities. Societal Impact Funding will support the establishment of PiaT as an effective model of participatory neighborhood park building and maintenance in urban areas. The project focuses on improving youth mental health, safety and community connection, building evidence to guide broader program adoption. The project offers societal benefits in the following areas: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 24 Policy: Build evidence to support local government adoption of participatory land revitalization programs. Community/Culture: Improve access to parks and nature among residents; improve urban ecosystem.
Policy: Build evidence to support local government adoption of participatory land revitalization programs Community/Culture: Support youth in making informed reproductive and sexual health decisions and staying safe online. The Problem Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) policies and access to care vary significantly across regions and over time. Differences in policy landscapes, political and economic systems, and cultural or religious contexts shape the unequal access to family planning, abortion care, contraception, and assisted reproductive technologies. Marginalized populations, especially younger women and those with fewer resources, experience disproportionate barriers in access to care and information. Contraceptive misinformation is emerging as an urgent yet understudied barrier to informed contraceptive use. The Approach To address this challenge, and working in an interdisciplinary collaboration with colleagues in our Sexual & Reproductive Health Power Lab, our project uses mixed-methods to: Conduct a 12-month pilot with 330 emerging adult women aged 18-25 in California, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Identify misinformation on hormonal contraceptives in the participants’ information environments under different political contexts. Sexual and Reproductive Health and the Impact of Misinformation “Our work addresses a central reproductive justice question: How can we support young women in making informed, evidencebased health decisions? In a landscape clouded by misinformation and policy barriers, our research cuts through the noise to bring clarity and guidance.” - Joanna Mishtal, PhD Short-Term Impact Develop a survey instrument to assess misinformation exposure and its impact. Inform SRH practice by offering insights to providers, educators, and policymakers to improve how health information is communicated. Strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers to address SRH disparities. Longer Term Impact Findings from this study will: Build a theoretical model linking information environments, navigation of information, and health decision-making. Guide health policy reforms to integrate evidence-based contraceptive education into public health messaging, school curricula, and provider training. Inform social media regulation to reduce and counter SRH misinformation. Societal Impact Funding will drive policies and cultural change that protect SRH rights, ensure access to accurate information, and promote evidence-based decisionmaking. The project offers societal benefits in the following areas: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 25 Education: Train providers and educators to address SRH misinformation and bias.
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