Krentzman - Winckel

Two University of Minnesota researchers awarded 2019 CTRS Pilot Funding

On September 1, 2019, CTSI’s Clinical and Translational Research Services (CTRS) announced its grantees for a two-stage pilot funding program for full-time University of Minnesota faculty. These awards support the planning and implementation of prospective pilot clinical trials. It is expected that data garnered through this funding mechanism will lead to at least one peer-reviewed publication and be used to inform the design of larger clinical trials. 

Each grantee received $5,000 and is expected to complete the planning stage for the project by March 1, 2020. Once each project is approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS), the awardees will be issued $70,000 in Stage 2 implementation funding.

Krentzman - Winckel

Grant awardee: Amy Krentzman, PhD, School of Social Work, College of Education and Human Development 

Project title: A Randomized Control Trial to Test Feasibility, Acceptability, and Impact of a Novel Behavioral Intervention (Positive Peer Journaling, PPJ) to Support Recovery From Addiction

Dr. Krentzman plans to study Positive Peer Journaling, a journaling practice that combines positive psychology with behavioral activation to increase satisfaction with life in addiction recovery and reduce relapse.

Grant awardee: Ann Van de Winckel, PhD, MSPT, PT, Medical School, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine

Project title: Feasibility of identifying brain mechanisms of Qigong and behavioral outcomes after Qigong practice in people with chronic low back pain

Dr. Van de Winckel will be assessing the effect of Qigong — a holistic mind and body approach to pain management — on brain function in areas and networks relevant to chronic low back pain. This will be the first MRI brain imaging study to assess the mechanism of Qigong in relieving low back pain. 

It was a competitive year for applicants. CTRS received 21 Letters of Intent, invited 18 full proposals and funded two projects. 

Dr. Krentzman and Dr. Van de Winckel’s proposals were awarded based on the following criteria:

  • Significance and importance

  • Innovativeness 

  • Overall strategy and approach

  • Feasibility and scientific merit

CTRS plans to issue its next RFA in March 2020. Congratulations to this year’s awardees!