CTSA Diversity Supplement - Vielot - Effectiveness of Recombinant Herpes Zoster Vaccine in Older U.S. Adults

Univ Of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Abstract/Summary of Parent Award Since inception in 2008, the UNC CTSA affiliate, the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute (TraCS) has transformed clinical and translational science at UNC through interdisciplinary research, training, collaboration with partners and stakeholders, and strong engagement across the CTSA consortium. We have built a dynamic regional network of universities, research institutes, health care providers, and >130 community organizations across our state. In the current funding period, we have added NC State University to RTI International and NC A&T University as full partners in our CTSA hub. In the funding period 2013-2023, our goal is to translate the best science from UNC and across the CTSA consortium into creative, effective, and accessible clinical and community interventions, addressing the public health problems of our state and advancing national CTSA goals. We accomplish through 5 aims: Aim 1. Workforce Development: Develop and support a skilled and diverse clinical and translational research workforce to advance translational innovations and address healthcare priorities. Aim 2. Collaboration and Engagement: Engage diverse stakeholders as active partners in translational research, and promote innovative approaches to team science. Aim 3. Integration: Integrate translational research across the research continuum, disciplines, populations, and throughout the lifespan. Aim 4. Methods/Processes: Develop and disseminate innovative methods and approaches to address scientific and operational barriers to translating scientific findings. Aim 5. Informatics: Incorporate cutting-edge informatics tools and methodologies in every aspect of translational research. This diversity supplement application by Nadja Vielot, PhD will use real-world Medicare claims data to study the post-licensure experience in the United States with recombinant herpes zoster vaccine (RZV). The aims of the proposal are to: 1) Estimate RZV effectiveness against herpes zoster, post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) and herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) in adults ages >65, and 2) Estimate the effectiveness of RZV in individuals with altered immunocompetence. Dr. Vielot will utilize the following CTSA Program resources for the research and training plan: Comparative Effectiveness Research: This Service will facilitate the process of securing Medicare data and oversight of the analyses. Informatics and Data Science: This Service will be used as part of Aim 3 to obtain data from the Carolina Data Warehouse for Health (CDW-H) and for assistance in linking CDW-H data to Medicare claims data. Regulatory Service: Dr. Vielot will use this service for guidance on completing the appropriate IRB and data use agreements required for the project. Workforce Development Program: Dr. Vielot will participate in the following WD training opportunities: TraCS Professional Development Seminar, R Writing Group, Mentor Training, and training in requirements for rigor. KL2 Program: Dr. Vielot will participate in the K Seminar; a seminar comprised of TraCS-funded KL2 awardees and selected individual K awardees. During this interdisciplinary seminar, she will hone her communication skills, receive feedback on work in progress including input from clinicians about the potential clinical and policy implications of her work, identify collaborators for future work, practice peer review skills, and network with a peer group of interdisciplinary scientists. TL1 Program: The TraCS TL1 Program consists of 3 tracks, 1 of which supports postdocs who wish to translate research results into health systems and policy. Dr. Vielot will participate in the TL1 Tales of Translation series which features experts from academia, industry and government discussing pivotal points in their careers, important research projects, and their views on opportunities and challenges when translating research results into policy. In addition, Dr. Vielot will attend either the virtual or in-person annual Translational Science meeting.