Research / en University Professor Faye S. Taxman Earns Additional $16.5 Million Grant /news/2024-09/university-professor-faye-s-taxman-earns-additional-165-million-grant <span>University Professor Faye S. Taxman Earns Additional $16.5 Million Grant</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/586" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Wed, 09/04/2024 - 13:32</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">The National Institutes of Health awarded another $16.5 million to the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN), led by ӽ紫ý Professor Faye S. Taxman. Taxman directs the Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence! within the Schar School of Policy and Government and spearheaded the establishment of JCOIN in 2018 to improve the treatment of opioid use disorders. This additional funding will allow the research network to expand its focus beyond opioids to substance abuse disorders more generally.</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2023-03/Faye-S-Taxman-thumbnail.jpg" width="300" height="300" alt="A woman in a blue top with a high collar smiles at the camera." loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Faye S. Taxman. Photo by Office of University Branding</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span>Comprising 12 research hubs and two resource centers, JCOIN promotes research into the treatment and management of opioid use disorder, particularly in individuals within the justice system. Taxman explains that, while each research hub has its own studies, her Coordination and Translation Center (CTC) works to “translate what we know works best, according to science, to targeted audiences that can implement them.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Since its inception in 2018, the JCOIN team has worked alongside a variety of stakeholders including health care professionals, social workers, and police officers, as well as county jails, probation agencies, and judicial courts. By disseminating new research findings and identifying best practices, Taxman’s team bridges the gap between scholarship and practical application, strengthening the positive impact of the research that JCOIN produces and maximizing the value of the taxpayer funding the network receives. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Engaging stakeholders in the process of translating scientific research has helped “generate new ideas about topics we need to research, and issues that we need to develop new materials for, to really advance the field,” and even, “opened our eyes to new barriers that we hadn’t even thought about,” Taxman said, including the social stigma surrounding professionals who work in this field. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>With this newest round of funding, JCOIN is rebranding itself as the Justice Community Overdose Innovation Network, reflecting the expanding scope of its research and dissemination efforts. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Over 130,000 people [across the United States and Canada] die each year due to overdoses,” Taxman said, “and overdoses are one the highest categories—even more than gun violence—for fatalities in our country; it cuts across all socioeconomic statuses.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Substance abuse is a national epidemic “that affects everyone in our society. You usually can’t find anyone that doesn’t know someone who has had an alcohol or substance use disorder,” she said.  </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>By connecting empirical research in partnership with practitioners in the field, JCOIN is ideally situated to alleviate the problems of addiction and substance abuse that plague communities across the United States.</span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/ftaxman" hreflang="und">Faye S. Taxman</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="7d532226-49a0-4e14-81d2-fc1df835f8ce"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/why-study-here/admissions/request-more-information"> <h4 class="cta__title">Request Schar School program information <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-info-circle" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="702b293a-2864-4612-9167-395367091303"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/discover-schar-school"> <h4 class="cta__title">Learn more about the Schar School <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-question-circle" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="986f9e1f-a5e6-4f9e-a0e4-a3e69ee79c75" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="2338f02d-ab31-4122-ad59-9dae95d3d067" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related News</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-8393cd8b2d335574ed715f3e634ac5c4f0091e7dfcbf4c73f733b299a98410ae"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"><li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2024-09/university-professor-faye-s-taxman-earns-additional-165-million-grant" hreflang="en">University Professor Faye S. Taxman Earns Additional $16.5 Million Grant</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">September 4, 2024</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2024-09/schar-school-welcomes-thema-monroe-white" hreflang="en">Schar School Welcomes Thema Monroe-White</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">September 4, 2024</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2024-08/working-mothers-triumph-juggling-parenting-career-and-master-public-administration" hreflang="en">A Working Mother’s Triumph: Juggling Parenting, Career, and Master of Public Administration Courses</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">August 28, 2024</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2024-08/george-mason-researchers-collaborate-15m-nsf-study-electrify-bus-fleets" hreflang="en">ӽ紫ý researchers collaborate on $1.5M NSF study to electrify bus fleets</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">August 21, 2024</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2024-08/schar-school-adjunct-professor-lee-roberts-teacher-distinction" hreflang="en">Schar School Adjunct Professor Lee Roberts is ‘Teacher of Distinction’</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">August 15, 2024</div></div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2226" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/556" hreflang="en">Schar School of Policy and Government</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18801" hreflang="en">Schar School Featured Stories</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/19931" hreflang="en">Schar School News for August 2024</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17356" hreflang="en">Strategic Direction</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:32:12 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 113751 at ӽ紫ý researchers collaborate on $1.5M NSF study to electrify bus fleets /news/2024-08/george-mason-researchers-collaborate-15m-nsf-study-electrify-bus-fleets <span>ӽ紫ý researchers collaborate on $1.5M NSF study to electrify bus fleets</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/586" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Wed, 08/21/2024 - 15:02</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">A new $1.5 million study funded by the National Science Foundation will draw on the expertise of a transdisciplinary research team from ӽ紫ý, the University of Virginia, and Syracuse University, in an effort to address the challenges involved in transitioning public bus fleets, including transit and school buses, to electric power.</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2024-08/jie-xu-400x400.jpg?itok=7Q-4VlLS" width="350" height="350" alt="A man in a purple shirt gazes at the camera." loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Principal Investigator Jie Xu will lead the NSF study. Photo provided.</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span>The study, “SCC-IRG Track 1: Community-Responsive Electrified and Adaptive Transit Ecosystem (CREATE): Planning, Operations, and Management,” is headed by the principal investigator (PI) </span><a href="/profiles/jxu13"><span>Jie Xu</span></a><span>, a professor at ӽ紫ý’s Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research in the <a href="https://cec.gmu.edu/">College of Engineering and Computing (CEC)</a>. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The project team’s co-PIs from ӽ紫ý include</span> <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/fzhang22"><span>Fengxiu Zhang</span></a><span> from the </span><a href="http://schar.gmu.edu/"><span>Schar School of Policy and Government</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span><span>,</span></span></span><span> </span><a href="/profiles/rji2"><span>Ran Ji</span></a><span> from the Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research in CEC; and </span><a href="https://volgenau.gmu.edu/profiles/wji2"><span>Wenying Ji</span></a><span> from the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering in CEC. Also on the team is </span><a href="https://engineering.virginia.edu/faculty/jundong-li" target="_blank"><span>Jundong Li</span></a><span> from the University of Virginia’s department of electrical and computer engineering. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Electrifying the nation’s bus fleets could significantly improve air quality and public health, especially in communities that have suffered from diesel exhaust pollution, says the Schar School’s Zhang. However, the shift to electric buses is complicated by several issues, such as limited driving range, long charging times, high upfront costs, downtime, a lack of skilled workforce, and varying priorities among stakeholders.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Electrifying public fleets is crucial for reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality, and enhancing public health, particularly in traditionally disadvantaged communities,” she said. “Our project seeks to address the complex challenges of planning, operating, and managing fleet electrification by developing comprehensive sociotechnical solutions to facilitate achievement of those outcomes.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>A key focus, she added, “is the integration of environmental and transportation justice principles, ensuring that the electrification process prioritizes communities burdened by environmental injustices while not compromising the accessibility and reliability of bus services.  </span></span></span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2024-08/fengxiu-zhang-400x400.jpg?itok=Sbx4war1" width="350" height="350" alt="A woman with dark hair and eye glasses smiles at the camera." loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Fengxiu Zhang: ‘Electrifying public fleets is crucial for reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality, and enhancing public health, particularly in traditionally disadvantaged communities.’ Photo provided</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span>“We will adopt a user-informed approach by extensively engaging with our partners to co-develop tailored solutions that meet their specific needs and priorities to ensure the relevance, applicability, and effectiveness of our solutions.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The goal is to create a scalable, sustainable path for public transit systems to transition to electric buses. Researchers say this will involve developing intelligent decision-support tools that help in planning and managing the fleet, while considering the unique challenges of electric buses compared to traditional ones. For instance, factors like charging capacity and locations are more crucial for electric buses due to their limited range and longer refueling times than conventional buses.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The project will bring together various partners, including local transit agencies, schools, utility companies, bus service providers, and national labs, to develop innovative technologies that meet both analytical and practical needs. These technologies will include advanced machine-learning and optimization tools to handle the complexities and uncertainties of electrifying bus fleets. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>These tools will help optimize daily operations, such as maintaining the right charge levels in buses, managing charging schedules, responding to incidents, and performing maintenance—all while ensuring the buses are used efficiently and the overall costs remain competitive.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The project will also assess collaborative governance in public bus fleet electrification planning and policy-making</span><span>. In addition, it aims to build a skilled workforce that can support the transition to electric buses, ensuring that the shift is sustainable in the long term.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>At the end of the project, the researchers will deploy the CREATE Suite, a set of intelligent decision-support tools developed during the study in a pilot program in collaboration with public transit systems and school districts that are partnering in the project. The project will also establish an electric bus clearinghouse as a centralized platform to disseminate lessons learned, best practices, and other information to help other transit agencies and schools electrify their bus fleets. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Other experts in the project team include </span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/david-wong"><span>David Wong</span></a><span> from the Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science and </span><a href="https://volgenau.gmu.edu/profiles/vmotti"><span>Vivian Genaro Motti</span></a><span> from the Department of Information Sciences and Technology, both from ӽ紫ý, </span></span></span><span><span><span>and Professor </span><a href="https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/directory/saba-siddiki" target="_blank"><span>Saba Siddiki</span></a><span> from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.</span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="c94933a7-e4de-476c-8fb2-1fb67034c438"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/why-study-here/admissions/request-more-information"> <h4 class="cta__title">Request Schar School program information <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-info-circle" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="661ac6fb-035a-4205-8725-2680c6658450"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/discover-schar-school"> <h4 class="cta__title">Learn more about the Schar School <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-question-circle" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/jxu13" hreflang="und">Jie Xu</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="bbbc24c5-f5eb-4b58-ad4f-6d3b833bfe0a" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="368a9f55-74e5-4d29-91ec-33f2559dafb5" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related News</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-741cca1cccf2d2c5b8fef34de232ff12932892c22d79130c6930398c142662f7"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"><li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2024-09/bioengineering-alumna-completes-fungal-summer-internship-nih" hreflang="en">Bioengineering alumna completes a fun(gal) summer internship with NIH </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">September 16, 2024</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2024-09/bioengineering-student-went-patriot-pilgrim-summer-internship" hreflang="en">Bioengineering student went from Patriot to Pilgrim for summer internship  </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">September 6, 2024</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2024-09/university-professor-faye-s-taxman-earns-additional-165-million-grant" hreflang="en">University Professor Faye S. Taxman Earns Additional $16.5 Million Grant</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">September 4, 2024</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2024-09/schar-school-welcomes-thema-monroe-white" hreflang="en">Schar School Welcomes Thema Monroe-White</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">September 4, 2024</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2024-09/george-mason-universitys-amarda-shehu-appointed-inaugural-chief-artificial" hreflang="en">ӽ紫ý’s Amarda Shehu appointed inaugural Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">September 4, 2024</div></div></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2226" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1161" hreflang="en">National Science Foundation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/556" hreflang="en">Schar School of Policy and Government</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/3071" hreflang="en">College of Engineering and Computing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17356" hreflang="en">Strategic Direction</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 21 Aug 2024 19:02:13 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 113566 at RAMP Project to Implement New Tools to Assist in Research /news/2024-02/ramp-project-implement-new-tools-assist-research <span>RAMP Project to Implement New Tools to Assist in Research</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/1226" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Pam Shepherd</span></span> <span>Mon, 02/19/2024 - 09:48</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p class="Paragraph SCXW106134712 BCX8"><span class="BCX8 SCXW106134712 TextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="intro-text"><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">To better assist Mason</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">’</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">s expanding research activities and provide enhanced support to faculty, the Research Administration Management Portal (RAMP) project will soon introduce</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> a handful of</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> new, easy-to-use tools. </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">In the coming months, </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">new “modules”</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> will </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">assist</span></span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"><span class="intro-text"> with managing research involving human subjects, streamlining payroll reporting, overseeing animal care, and adhering to export regulations</span>.</span></span><span class="BCX8 EOP SCXW106134712"> </span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW106134712 BCX8"><span class="BCX8 SCXW106134712 TextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">During the </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">next phase, t</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">he Institutional Review Board (IRB) module</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">support</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">ing</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">human subject</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">s</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> research</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">will be implemented. The </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">IRB’s </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">onboarding phase </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">began in October </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">2023 </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">and is </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">anticipated</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">to go live </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">this </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">July</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">. </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">RAMP IRB</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> will replace IRBNet, which Mason has used </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">since</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">2013</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">.</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">This new module will allow for improved functionality and usability over the current system, and integration with the other RAMP modules.</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">RAMP IRB</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">will </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">improve</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">collaboration between</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> principal investigators</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">, IRB staff</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">,</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> and committee members through all IRB activities from new protocols to amendments.</span></span><span class="BCX8 EOP SCXW106134712"> </span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW106134712 BCX8"><span class="BCX8 SCXW106134712 TextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">T</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">he RAMP Payroll Certification (Effort Reporting) implementation will </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">begin</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">onboarding in April 2024</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">.</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">This module will</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> streamline the </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">effort and labor reporting process on sponsored projects</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">,</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> allow</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">ing</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> for a standard workflow </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">for</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> payroll certifications </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">routing</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> through the electronic </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">system</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> for review and approval</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">. </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">RAMP Payroll Certification</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> will replace the manual process currently in place for payroll certification allowing for greater efficiency</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">, ease of access</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">, </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">improved functionality</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">,</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> and better reporting capabilities</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">.</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span></span><span class="BCX8 EOP SCXW106134712"> </span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW106134712 BCX8"><span class="BCX8 SCXW106134712 TextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">Future </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">RAMP implementations</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">include Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Export Control, with </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">a </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">phased </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">roll out</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> through March 2025.</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">The Research Reporting Project continues in conjunction with the full RAMP implementation, with additional reports being made available </span><span class="AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">throughout the duration of the project</span><span class="AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">.</span></span><span class="BCX8 EOP SCXW106134712"> </span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW106134712 BCX8"><span class="BCX8 SCXW106134712 TextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">In addition, the </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">current</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> RAMP modules for Grants, Agreements, and Conflict of Interest (COI) will be upgraded to the newest </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">V</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">ersion 10.5</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">,</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> allow</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">ing</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> end users to experience the most updated features of the</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> system</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">. </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">Of note, t</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">he RAMP Safety module </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">h</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">as already </span><span class="BCX8 ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">implemented</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> o</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">n</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">V</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">ersion 10.5 and will not require </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">the</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> upgrade</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">.</span></span><span class="BCX8 EOP SCXW106134712"> </span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW106134712 BCX8"><span class="BCX8 SCXW106134712 TextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">The overall </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">timeline</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712"> for </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">the RAMP </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">Project </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">is </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW106134712">below:</span></span><span class="BCX8 EOP SCXW106134712"> </span></p> <div class="align-center"> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2024-02/ramp_timeline_2.png" width="1200" height="675" alt="Summary graphic RAMP Program Timeline December 2020–October 2025." loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <p class="Paragraph SCXW106134712 BCX8"><span class="BCX8 SCXW138143051 TextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW138143051">The RAMP Team will continue to </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW138143051">share information </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW138143051">regarding</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW138143051"> the project with the Mason Community through the </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW138143051 BCX8" href="https://ramp.gmu.edu/" target="_blank"><span class="BCX8 SCXW138143051 TextRun Underlined" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW138143051">RAMP website</span></span></a><span class="BCX8 SCXW138143051 TextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW138143051">. </span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW138143051">Email questions to </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW138143051 BCX8" href="mailto:ramp@gmu.edu" target="_blank"><span class="BCX8 SCXW138143051 TextRun Underlined" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW138143051">ramp@gmu.edu</span></span></a><span class="BCX8 SCXW138143051 TextRun" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW138143051">.</span><span class="BCX8 NormalTextRun SCXW138143051"> </span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2226" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18436" hreflang="en">Provost Newsletter</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/216" hreflang="en">Office of the Provost</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17356" hreflang="en">Strategic Direction</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 19 Feb 2024 14:48:18 +0000 Pam Shepherd 110856 at Study: When Recreational Cannabis Is Legal, Codeine Demand Drops /news/2023-01/study-when-recreational-cannabis-legal-codeine-demand-drops <span>Study: When Recreational Cannabis Is Legal, Codeine Demand Drops</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/586" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Tue, 01/24/2023 - 08:49</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/jmaclea" hreflang="en">Catherine Maclean</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="b119f7ca-c835-410d-b9a2-98d86ad87f01"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/why-study-here/admissions/request-more-information"> <h4 class="cta__title">Request program information <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-info-circle" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="ec12a998-562b-4917-a9c9-c6ce19b4ba3c"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/discover-schar-school-0"> <h4 class="cta__title">Learn more about the Schar School <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-info-circle" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2023-01/Photo-of-Catherine-Maclean.jpg?itok=mx6ytcEi" width="300" height="350" alt="A woman with brown hair and glasses wears a pink sweater and smiles at the camera." loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Catherine Maclean: ‘…[C]annabis use is arguably less harmful to health than the nonmedical use of prescription opioids.’</figcaption></figure><p><span><span>A new study published this month in<em> </em><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hec.4652" target="_blank"><em>Health Economics</em></a> finds a significant reduction in pharmacy-based codeine distribution in states that have legalized recreational cannabis use. The finding is promising from a public health policy perspective because misuse of prescription opioids contributes to more than 10,000 overdose deaths a year in the U.S.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>The study was coauthored by associate professor <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/jmaclea">Johanna Catherine Maclean</a> of the <a href="http://schar.gmu.edu/">Schar School of Policy and Government</a> at ӽ紫ý. The research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>So far, 21 U.S. states have passed recreational cannabis laws; legislatures in other states are considering similar measures.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>“A reduction in the misuse of opioids will save lives,” said doctoral candidate Shyam Raman who is affiliated with the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and the lead author of the study. “Our research indicates that recreational cannabis laws substantially reduce distribution of codeine to pharmacies, an overlooked potential benefit to legalizing recreational cannabis use.”</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Maclean, who specializes in the study of substance use disorder and public policy, said that while cannabis and opioids can be used to minimize chronic pain symptoms, they aren’t equivalent in their impact on overall health. </span></span></p> <p><span><span>“Increasing legal access to cannabis may shift some consumers away from opioids and toward cannabis,” she said. “While all substances have some risks, cannabis use is arguably less harmful to health than the nonmedical use of prescription opioids.”</span></span></p> <p><span><span>The study is believed to be among the first to separately examine the impact of recreational cannabis laws on shipments of opioids to hospitals, pharmacies, and other endpoint distributors. Previous studies have focused on medical cannabis laws or the use of opioids by subsets of consumers, such as Medicaid beneficiaries.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>The researchers analyzed data from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Automation of Reports and Consolidation Orders System which tracks the flow of controlled substances in the U.S.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Key findings from states that passed recreational cannabis laws:</span></span></p> <ul><li><span><span><span>A 26 percent reduction in pharmacy-based distribution of codeine and as much as a 37 percent reduction after recreational cannabis laws have been in effect for four years.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Minimal impact on distribution of other opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine in any setting.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Minimal impact on codeine distribution by hospitals, which often have less permissive policies than pharmacies.</span></span></span></li> </ul><p><span><span>“This finding is particularly meaningful,” said senior author Coleman Drake of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public Health. “Where previous studies have focused on more potent opioids, codeine is a weaker drug with a higher potential for addiction. It indicates people may be obtaining codeine from pharmacies for misuse, and that recreational cannabis laws reduce this illicit demand.”</span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Our study contributes new information to policy debates regarding legalization of recreational cannabis, which is a complex decision,” added Maclean. “Lawmakers could weigh the benefits we document alongside benefits and costs across a range of health, social, and economic domains potentially impacted by cannabis as they determine whether legalization is appropriate for their constituents.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span>W. David Bradford of the University of Georgia also contributed to the study.</span></span></p> <p><span><span><em>Additional reporting by Jim Hanchett,</em> <em>assistant dean for communications for the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. Cornell’s announcement is </em><a href="https://publicpolicy.cornell.edu/news/when-recreational-cannabis-is-legal-codeine-demand-drops/" target="_blank"><em>here</em></a><em>.</em></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2226" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17411" hreflang="en">Cannabis</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1131" hreflang="en">Opioids</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/3206" hreflang="en">Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17406" hreflang="en">Schar School News January 2023</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 24 Jan 2023 13:49:46 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 103936 at Two ӽ紫ý Economic Forecasting Powerhouses Join Forces; First Forum Nov. 15 /news/2022-11/two-george-mason-university-economic-forecasting-powerhouses-join-forces-first-forum <span>Two ӽ紫ý Economic Forecasting Powerhouses Join Forces; First Forum Nov. 15</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/586" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Andrew J Schappert</span></span> <span>Thu, 11/03/2022 - 11:49</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/sfuller2" hreflang="und">Stephen Fuller</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/tclower" hreflang="und">Terry Clower</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/mrozell" hreflang="und">Mark J. Rozell</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="f15fa5d6-fa07-4d75-9ac1-9c8df8d1f2f6"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/discover-schar-school-0"> <h4 class="cta__title">Learn more about the Schar School <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-info-circle" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="746d676e-daf9-4e88-b312-949d81231ba1"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/why-study-here/admissions/request-more-information"> <h4 class="cta__title">Request program information <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"> <div class="field field--name-field-cta-icon field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-font-awesome-icon field--type-fontawesome-icon field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Icon</div> <div class="field__item"><div class="fontawesome-icons"> <div class="fontawesome-icon"> <i class="fas fa-info-circle" data-fa-transform="" data-fa-mask="" style="--fa-primary-color: #000000; --fa-secondary-color: #000000;"></i> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2022-11/Terry-Clower-web.jpg" width="300" height="210" alt="A man in front of a Center for Regional Analysis sign in a suit and tie looks at the camera." loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Terry Clower: ‘No matter the project’s location or topic, we bring what we learn back to Northern Virginia and the D.C. metro area so we can help our region and state grow and thrive.’ </figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Two of the Washington, D.C., region’s most recognized and respected economic and policy research entities—ӽ紫ý’s </span></span></span><a href="https://cra.gmu.edu/"><span><span><span>Center for Regional Analysis</span></span></span></a><span><span><span> (CRA) and its  </span></span></span><a href="https://sfullerinstitute.gmu.edu/"><span><span><span>Stephen S. Fuller Institute </span></span></span><span><span><span>for Research on the Washington Region’s Economic Future</span></span></span></a> <span class="MsoHyperlink"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>(SFI)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span>—have joined forces in an effort to expand and deepen their longtime efforts to support economic and community development in the region.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The units’ missions are complementary, with the SFI continuing to provide real-time research and analysis of economic issues and conditions that affect the Washington region now and in the future; the CRA, with its broader geographic reach, continues to provide data, analytics, and research with state and national implications in a wide range of crucial issues. Both units are headed by CRA director and professor of public policy </span></span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/tclower"><span><span><span>Terry Clower</span></span></span></a><span><span><span> and are housed at the </span></span></span><a href="http://schar.gmu.edu/"><span><span><span>Schar School of Policy and Government.</span></span></span></a> </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/mrozell"><span><span><span>Mark J. Rozell</span></span></span></a><span><span><span>, dean of the Schar School, noted that while each research center provides critical guidance to regional business leaders and policy makers, “the post-pandemic labor markets and ever-changing economic conditions made it clear that the best path forward is to realize strategic and operational synergies by combining the CRA and the Fuller Institute under a single leader in Dr. Clower.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>With the consolidation, Rozell said, “the two research centers will continue their nearly 40 years of combined history as key resources for those who rely on their insights to keep the region’s economy moving forward.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2022-11/Steven-Fuller-300x300.jpg" width="300" height="300" alt="A man in a suit and glasses gazes at a crystal ball." loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Steven Fuller: ‘Blending the unique capabilities and missions of these two organizations will be a win-win for all the beneficiaries…’ Photo by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“Working with sponsors and partners over the past eight years, the CRA has been able to expand its portfolio to include research and engagement activities across the commonwealth of Virginia, the DMV, the U.S., and internationally,” said Clower, who joined Mason in 2014 and took the helm at the Center a year later. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>With the five-year-old Fuller Institute under the same umbrella, Clower said, “No matter the project’s location or topic, we bring what we learn back to Northern Virginia and the D.C. metro area so we can help our region and state grow and thrive…Working with Dr. Fuller the past few months to bring our entities together makes me appreciate anew just how much he has brought to this region over the past 50 years.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Fuller, founding director of the SFI and now a University Professor Emeritus, said the institute will continue to monitor the economic forces affecting the region as they emerge.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>“By combining these two complementary research organizations, both will benefit from sharing staff and knowledge as well as gaining increased management and operation efficiencies,” said Fuller. “Blending the unique capabilities and missions of these two organizations will be a win-win for all the beneficiaries of these services and for the advancement of economic research on critical issues in these uncertain economy times.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><em><span><span><span>The CRA and the Fuller Institute will host the first </span></span></span></em><a href="https://cra.gmu.edu/2022/10/06/sfi-economic-forum-tuesday-november-15-save-the-date/" target="_blank"><em><span><span><span>CRA/Fuller Institute Joint Economic Outlook Forum</span></span></span></em></a><em><span><span><span> on Tuesday, November 15, at Mason Square in Arlington from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Clower and Fuller Institute founder </span></span></span></em><a href="https://sfullerinstitute.gmu.edu/about/" target="_blank"><em><span><span><span>Stephen S. Fuller</span></span></span></em></a><em><span><span><span> will examine the current challenges and opportunities facing the region’s economy and will present analysis and insights on employment, housing, construction, retail, and other decisive aspects effecting the region’s economy in 2023 and beyond. Bob Buchanan, a third-generation builder and civic leader and president of the 2030 Group, will provide opening remarks.</span></span></span></em></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><em><span><span><span>The event is free and open to the public but reservations are </span></span></span></em><a href="https://gmu.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=1448" target="_blank"><em><span><span><span>required at this site</span></span></span></em></a><em><span><span><span>.</span></span></span></em></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong><span><span><span>About the Schar School of Policy and Government</span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>ӽ紫ý’s Schar School of Policy and Government prepares undergraduate and graduate students to be leaders and managers who solve problems and advance the public good in all sectors and levels of government—in the United States and throughout the world. Located where policy happens—just 3 miles from the Pentagon, 4 miles from The White House, and 6 miles from the U.S. Capitol Building—students are connected to jobs, internships, networking, and experiences that can only be found in the Washington, D.C., area.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong><span><span><span><span>About ӽ紫ý</span></span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>ӽ紫ý is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at </span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.gmu.edu/" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span>gmu.edu</span></span></span></span></a></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15466" hreflang="en">Center for Regional Analysis</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17271" hreflang="en">Stephen S. Fuller Institute for Research on the Washington Region’s Economic Future</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1826" hreflang="en">economy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2226" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17266" hreflang="en">Schar School News November 2022</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 03 Nov 2022 15:49:50 +0000 Andrew J Schappert 102836 at New Book Features Exclusive Interview with Jailed Leader of Mexico’s ‘War on Drugs’ /news/2021-08/new-book-features-exclusive-interview-jailed-leader-mexicos-war-drugs <span>New Book Features Exclusive Interview with Jailed Leader of Mexico’s ‘War on Drugs’</span> <span><span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span>Wed, 08/04/2021 - 12:33</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/gcorreac" hreflang="und">Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2021-06/Guadalupe-Correa-Cabrera-400.jpg?itok=ZOseCMvK" width="350" height="350" alt="Schar School of Policy and Government professor Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera: ‘This book is important because it is the perspective of the Mexican government on how they saw security in Mexico before the declaration of the ‘War on Drugs.’</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Little did Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera know in November of 2017 that the high-ranking Mexican government official she was interviewing with for a book on that country’s</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“drug war” would three years later be arrested in the U.S. for taking millions of dollars in bribes from the villainous Sinaloa drug cartel.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The dramatic downfall of Mexico’s former secretary of public security is now a new book, <em>Las Cinco Vidas de Genaro García Luna </em>(El Colegio de México), written by </span></span></span><a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/about/faculty-directory/guadalupe-correa-cabrera"><span><span><span>Correa-Cabrera</span></span></span></a><span><span><span>, a Schar School assistant professor, and Rice University’s Tony Payan. (</span></span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B08T9W31SZ/"><span><span><span>The book</span></span></span></a><span><span><span> is available in Spanish only.)</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The book traces García Luna’s path leading to his downfall and to the security issues in Mexico today. This work also provides credible insight into just how high the reach of organized crime—the drug cartels—is able to go to the very top of Mexico’s federal authorities. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“He was the strongman of security in Mexico,” Correa-Cabrera said, regarding García Luna. “He was the protagonist in the first stage of the state-sanctioned ‘War on Drugs.’ He was the Secretary of Public Safety and the right-hand man of the Mexican president at the time, Felipe Calderón, and was very close to the DEA and to all the United States’ agencies,” including the CIA and the Department of Justice.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“And he was arrested, at the end of 2019,” she said, “charged in connection to drug trafficking, money laundering, and it was a big scandal because he was the strongman of security.” García Luna is in a New York prison awaiting trial for taking tens of millions in bribes to protect cartels.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2021-08/genaro-garc%C3%ADa-luna.jpg?itok=pnzqI46T" width="350" height="292" alt="Former Mexican secretary of public security Genaro García Luna faces charges of drug trafficking and money laundering with the Sinaloa drug cartel " loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Genaro García Luna awaits trial in a New York prison.</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Correa-Cabrera interviewed García Luna in 2017, two years before his arrest, over three days at the Center for the United States and Mexico of the Baker Institute at Rice University in Houston, during which time he gave his perspectives on security issues in Mexico—a bitter irony—considering how his tenure came to an end. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“He thought he was untouchable,” she said, reflecting on just how powerful García Luna was at the time of the interview. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“This book is important because it is the perspective of the Mexican government on how they saw security in Mexico before the declaration of the ‘War on Drugs,’” she said. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“What is the drug war? What does that mean? Because of the ‘War on Drugs’ the violence has not been reduced. The situation in Mexico is worse than it was when they declared a war on drugs. The cartels have grown very powerful, very murderous.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/12126" hreflang="en">Books</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2226" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/12061" hreflang="en">Schar School News August 2021</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 04 Aug 2021 16:33:23 +0000 Anonymous 84396 at Mason climate communication researcher’s smartphone game helps combat misinformation /news/2020-12/mason-climate-communication-researchers-smartphone-game-helps-combat-misinformation <span>Mason climate communication researcher’s smartphone game helps combat misinformation</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/251" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">John Hollis</span></span> <span>Mon, 12/14/2020 - 12:50</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><div alt="Cranky Uncle" data-embed-button="media_browser" data-entity-embed-display="media_image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"feature_image_medium","image_link":"","svg_render_as_image":1,"svg_attributes":{"width":"","height":""}}" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="3e8779b7-e241-4055-ae81-1cc58753dc49" title="Cranky Uncle" class="align-right embedded-entity" data-langcode="en"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/feature_image_medium/public/2020-12/thumbnail_photo_fake_climate_expertA_6.jpg?itok=hytmt-V-" alt="Cranky Uncle" title="Cranky Uncle" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> <p>A ӽ紫ý scientist has developed a smartphone game that uses critical thinking and cartoons in the fight against dangerous climate change misinformation.</p> <p><a href="https://communication.gmu.edu/people/jcook20" target="_blank">John Cook</a>, a research assistant professor at Mason’s <a href="https://www.climatechangecommunication.org/" target="_blank">Center for Climate Change Communication</a> within the <a href="https://chss.gmu.edu/" target="_blank">College of Humanities and Social Sciences</a>, launches his “Cranky Uncle” game on Dec. 15 after spending over a decade studying different ways to counter misinformation. The game is available for free on iPhone and Android.</p> <p>“Misinformation does great damage to society,” Cook said. “An essential solution is making the public more resilient against fake news. But how? Gamification is a powerful approach that can potentially reach many millions of people.”</p> <p>The game uses a resilience-building technique known as active inoculation. In the game, players are mentored by a cartoon Cranky Uncle, who is dismissive of scientific evidence on climate change, vaccines, COVID-19 and other issues. As players learn the techniques used to deny science, they gain points on their quest to become a cranky uncle.</p> <p>“If you want to learn how to spot someone cheating at cards, first, you have to learn how to cheat at cards,” explained Cook.</p> <p>Cook, who used to draw cartoons for a living before becoming a scientist, illustrated many of the cartoon depictions of logical fallacies. He called the cumulative impact of humor, cartoons and games a powerful one that compels players into critical thinking through gameplay.</p> <p>“The deeper a player gets into the game, the more resilient they become against misinformation,” he said. </p> <p>Cook teamed up with creative agency Autonomy Co-op to develop the game.</p> <p>“The issue of science misinformation is more critical than ever before,” said Autonomy CEO Jay McDowell. “We're honored to be part of such a unique and innovative approach to fighting it.”</p> <p>Cook is the founder of the <a href="https://skepticalscience.com/" target="_blank">Skeptical Science</a> website and the lead author of a <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/8/2/024024%22%20HYPERLINK%20%22https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/8/2/024024" target="_blank">study that found 97% scientific consensus on climate change</a>. He spent the last decade examining how to best counter climate science denial. His research, which focused on the responses of high school seniors and college students, is designed to explain the techniques of denial to make the public more resilient against climate change misinformation.</p> <p>Learn more about the game at <a href="https://crankyuncle.com" target="_blank">crankyuncle.com</a>. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2226" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/551" hreflang="en">Climate Change</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/396" hreflang="en">Center for Climate Change Communication</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/391" hreflang="en">College of Humanities and Social Sciences</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 14 Dec 2020 17:50:28 +0000 John Hollis 43851 at Tackling the world’s grand challenges /news/2020-10/tackling-worlds-grand-challenges <span>Tackling the world’s grand challenges</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/231" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Wed, 10/21/2020 - 05:00</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/296" hreflang="en">World-class research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/221" hreflang="en">Office of the President</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2226" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/3006" hreflang="en">Sustainability Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4116" hreflang="en">United Nations Sustainable Development Goals</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/416" hreflang="en">Gregory Washington</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4111" hreflang="en">Press Releases</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 21 Oct 2020 09:00:20 +0000 Colleen Rich 14196 at Alternate Light Five Times More Effective in Detecting Bruises on Victims of Color /news/2020-04/alternate-light-five-times-more-effective-detecting-bruises-victims-color <span>Alternate Light Five Times More Effective in Detecting Bruises on Victims of Color </span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/291" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">dhawkin</span></span> <span>Thu, 04/30/2020 - 12:10</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="6a7d4a01-333a-4049-b40a-337a5cc51833"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="/admissions-aid/apply-now"> <h4 class="cta__title">Apply Now <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </h4> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="d2b1a200-e01e-48d4-bdda-b45a9550c47c" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Press Release<br /> For Immediate Release</strong></p> <p>Contact<br /> Michelle Thompson<br /><a href="mailto:mthomp7@gmu.edu" target="_blank">mthomp7@gmu.edu</a><br /> 703-993-3485</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h3>As a consequence of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, rates of domestic abuse have increased. Improved procedures are needed to increase effectiveness of detecting bruises for people of color. </h3> <p>FAIRFAX, VA - Bruise detection and diagnosis is currently conducted by sight, under regular light, and bruises are often difficult to see on victims of violence depending on their skin color and the age of their injury. </p> <p>As a result, individuals with dark skin tones are at a significant disadvantage in having their injuries properly identified and documented. This can have a significant impact on both medical and legal outcomes for victims of violence. For example, strangulation, a violent act often perpetrated during intimate partner violence, is now charged by many states as a felony. Detecting bruises associated with these dangerous offenses can provide important evidence towards prosecution.</p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/medium/public/2022-10/Yellow_708.jpg?itok=xY4oLHIL" width="560" height="373" alt="Human skin in closeup with a bruise. A ruler is beside the bruise to show size. There is a green light filter over the image." loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>A ӽ紫ý study led by Dr. Katherine Scafide found alternate light was five times better at detecting bruises on diverse skin tones.</figcaption></figure><p>To address the challenges of detecting bruises, Scafide and colleagues conducted a randomized control trial with 157 participants to test the effectiveness of an alternate light source at detecting bruises compared to commonly used white light. They also assessed the impact of skin color, age, gender, localized fat, and mode of injury on bruise detection. They found that using alternate light was five times better at detecting bruises on victims across a variety of skin tones than white light. Results of the study were published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14294"><em>Journal of Forensic Sciences</em></a>.</p> <p>“As domestic violence rates soar worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, we need innovative ways of capturing its effects on victims,” urges <a href="https://chhs.gmu.edu/profile/view/11816">Dr. Katherine Scafide</a>, a forensic nursing expert who led the randomized control trial at <a href="https://chhs.gmu.edu/">the College of Health and Human Services at ӽ紫ý</a>. “Alternate light could be the tool towards addressing the disparity in detecting bruises across diverse populations.”</p> <p> “Alternate light improves our ability to see bruises,” explains Scafide. “We need to implement this technology into the care of adult patients who have experience physical trauma, but only after evidence-based guidelines are developed and evaluated.”</p> <p>Scafide cautions that alternate light can detect bruises but should not yet be used to <em>diagnose</em> bruises because other skin lesions (e.g., scars, hyperpigmentation) may appear similar when viewed using this technology. Alternate light should only be interpreted in conjunction with a history of injury and other physical assessment findings.</p> <p>Scafide will continue this work with a new grant from the National Institute of Justice that will allow her to develop and evaluate evidence-based guidelines for implementing alternate light in the clinical assessment of bruises.</p> <p>This study was supported by the National Institute of Justice grant 2016-DN-BX-0147. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice.</p> <p><strong>About ӽ紫ý</strong></p> <p>ӽ紫ý is Virginia's largest and most diverse public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 38,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. For more information, visit <a href="https://www2.gmu.edu/" target="_blank">https://www2.gmu.edu/</a>.</p> <p><strong>About the College of Health and Human Services</strong></p> <p>ӽ紫ý's College of Health and Human Services prepares students to become leaders and shape the public's health through academic excellence, research of consequence and interprofessional practice. The College enrolls 1,917 undergraduate students and 950 graduate students in its nationally recognized offerings, including: 5 undergraduate degrees, 12 graduate degrees, and 11 certificate programs. The College is transitioning to a college public health in the near future. For more information, visit <a href="https://chhs.gmu.edu/" target="_blank">https://chhs.gmu.edu/</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Related Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2226" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10391" hreflang="en">Domestic Violence</a></div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/3021" hreflang="en">Nursing</a></div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9306" hreflang="en">Forensic Nursing</a></div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/691" hreflang="en">College of Health and Human Services</a></div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5466" hreflang="en">College of Health and Human Services School of Nursing</a></div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/116" hreflang="en">Campus News</a></div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8736" hreflang="en">CHHS News</a></div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17161" hreflang="en">Oct22HPT</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 30 Apr 2020 16:10:07 +0000 dhawkin 101636 at Galileo’s Science Cafés share Mason research with the community /news/2020-02/galileos-science-cafes-share-mason-research-community <span>Galileo’s Science Cafés share Mason research with the community</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/231" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Thu, 02/27/2020 - 05:00</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2226" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/286" hreflang="en">Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM)</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1046" hreflang="en">Institute for Biohealth Innovation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/116" hreflang="en">Campus News</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 27 Feb 2020 10:00:25 +0000 Colleen Rich 41386 at