Research
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"A mixed-methods examination of effects of the food and physical activity environments on dietary and physical activity practices among rural and urban women"
Principal Investigator: Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, PhD
Sponsor: East Carolina University – Division of Research and Graduate Studies
The goal of this project is to identify the relationship between the home/community food environments and energy intake in rural and urban women.
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"CDC SIP 09-017 Screening and Referral for Chronic Disease and Associated Risk Factors"
Principal Investigators: Thomas Keyserling, MD and Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, PhD
Sponsor: UNC – Chapel Hill – Subcontract to East Carolina University
The goal of this project is to incorporate a feasible and effective cardiovascular disease reduction lifestyle intervention into the existing family planning services at Pitt County Health Department. The project will include three phases: Program Planning and Protocol Development, Implementation, and Analysis, Report-writing, and Dissemination.
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"NIH P50 Center to Reduce CVD Disparities: Genes, Clinics, and Communities"
Principal Investigator: Alice Ammerman, DrPH, RD
Co-PI's: Thomas Keyserling, MD; Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, PhD; Doyle Cummings, PharmD
Sponsor: UNC – Chapel Hill – Subcontract to East Carolina University
We propose an integrated set of three interdisciplinary studies in Lenoir County to: 1) determine genetic factors associated with CVD risk; 2) understand the multilevel determinants of poor health outcomes and the potential social and community capital that can support sustainable change; 3) work with community leaders, health professionals, and citizens to apply these understandings to improved practice-based management of hypertension and community-centered lifestyle management, and test the impact on improving outcomes and reducing disparities in cardiovascular health among 700 participants.
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"Obesity and Access to Farmers' Markets"
Principal Investigator: Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, PhD
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute
We propose to use a unique participant recruiting opportunity through a CDC-funded study in the local health department family planning clinic, to enroll a subset of participants from the larger study into a primary qualitative data collection effort to examine neighborhood context and "food activity spaces" as viewed by women of diverse demographic groups (Aim 1). In Aim 2, we will develop and implement a standard method for mapping farmers' markets. We will then use data collected in Aims 1 and 2 to conduct a secondary data analysis using a larger sample of women (n = 1000) recruited through the CDC-funded study in the local health department (Aim 3).
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"UNC Center for Nutrition & Obesity Policy Research & Evaluation"
Co-PIs: Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, PhD and AliceAmmerman, DrPH, RD
Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The center's aims are to advance nutrition and obesity policy research, evaluation, and impact by (1) creating a multidisciplinary team of investigators, (2) collaborating with the NOPREN Coordinating Center, NOPREN workgroups, and CDC program staff, (3) collaborating with community-based organizations and public health departments, (4) conducting policy and evaluation research, and (5) translating and disseminating findings.
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"Examining the Health Impact of Farmers' Markets"
Co-PIs: Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, PhD and Alice Ammerman, DrPH, RD
Sponsor: NC DPH
We propose to evaluate the process and impact of the CTG state-wide, federally-funded initiative (farmers' markets component) regarding dietary intake as well as the adoption and implementation of specific farmers' market enhancements.
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