Our faculty are national experts in pharmacoepidemiology and conduct research to enable prescribers to make safe, informed decisions for their patients. These are active pharmacoepidemiology projects conducted by our team.
Pharmacoepidemiology Research Projects
Use and effectiveness of medications for opioid use disorder in older adults with multimorbidity
Funder: NIH/NIDA; PIs: Park & Anderson
This project will study how multiple chronic health conditions influence the selection of medications for opioid use disorder (methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone) in older adults, and will compare the safety and effectiveness of these treatments using Medicare and VA data alongside interviews with patients and clinicians. The findings will help build the evidence base needed to support shared decision-making between older adults with multimorbidity and their clinicians when choosing OUD treatment.
OFF-RAMP Feasibility: a pilot trial comparing different off-ramping strategies for maintaining weight loss among adults using incretin based therapies for obesity
Funder: NIH/NIDDK; PI: Luo
This project will test the feasibility and acceptability of three different strategies for maintaining weight loss among adults who discontinue or reduce high-dose GLP-1 based therapies after reaching their weight loss goals, comparing a maintenance dose, a lower-dose alternate frequency regimen, and a switch to non-incretin based therapy. The findings will lay the groundwork for a larger, multisite randomized trial testing these approaches on weight outcomes over 12 months.
Determining medications associated with drug-induced pancreatic injury through novel pharmacoepidemiology techniques that assess causation
Funder: NIH/NIDDK; PI: Vajravelu
This study uses innovative pharmacoepidemiologic and data science methods to identify medications associated with drug-induced pancreatic injury, aiming to improve early detection and inform safer prescribing practices.
Machine-Learning Prediction and Reducing Overdoses with EHR Nudges (mPROVEN)
Funder: NIH/NIDA; PI: Gellad
The mPROVEN study uses a machine learning risk prediction tool embedded in the electronic health record to identify and support patients at high risk of opioid overdose.
Human vs. Analogue Insulin for Youth with Type 1 Diabetes in Low-Resource Settings
Funder: The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; PI: Luo
This study compares the effectiveness, safety, and affordability of human versus analogue insulin in youth with type 1 diabetes living in low-resource settings, with the goal of guiding treatment decisions and improving access to optimal care.
Pediatric Adverse Event Risk Reduction for High Risk Medications in Children and Adolescents: Improving Pediatric Patient Safety in Dental Practices
Funder: NIH/NIDCR; PI: Suda
This study focuses on identifying and reducing adverse events from high-risk medications in children and adolescents by developing and implementing targeted safety interventions to enhance pediatric medication care.
Informatics Approaches to Understand and Reduce Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing by Dentists
Funder: NIH/NIDCR; Co-PI: Suda
This study employs advanced informatics tools and data-driven analysis to understand patterns of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing by dentists and develop targeted interventions to promote evidence-based dental prescribing practices.
Identifying Multi-Level Predictors and Outcomes of Oral Anticancer Medication Adherence Initiation & Persistence Among Patients with Hematologic Malignancies
Funder: NCI; PI: Belcher
This study investigates the multi-level factors—across patient, provider, and healthcare system domains—that influence both initiation and adherence to oral anticancer medications, with the aim of developing strategies to enhance treatment effectiveness and patient outcomes.
EVOLV-Rx VA: Evaluating Opportunities to Decrease Low-Value Prescribing in Community Living Centers
Funder: VA; PI: Radomski
The EVOLV-Rx VA study evaluates an electronic dashboard that helps pharmacists identify and reduce low-value prescribing for older Veterans in Community Living Centers. The project aims to improve medication safety and care quality by integrating deprescribing recommendations into routine reviews.
Low-Value Prescribing among Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries
Funder: Humana; PI: Radomski
This study will implement the EVOLV-Rx tool to measure low-value prescribing in the Humana Research Database to estimate the prevalence, characterize members with evidence of low-value prescribing, and assess the relationships between low-value prescribing patterns, provider type, and patient health outcomes.