Fall 2023 Newsletter

The goal of the RENEW Team is to promote Recovery through ENgaging and Empowering Women. Research efforts focus on the intersection between substance misuse and women’s health.

Studies Open for Enrollment

The ORCHID Study

Enrolling pregnant women ages 18-40

Recruiting in Tucson and Phoenix!

redcap.link/orchid-study

The ROBIN Project

Recruiting pregnant women ages 18-40

https://redcap.link/robinproject

STUDY UPDATES

The ORCHID Study is in its final recruitment push! Potential participants can still complete our quick online eligibility survey here: redcap.link/orchid-study

The ROBIN Project is continuing to prepare for its initial recruitment push scheduled to start in mid-May. This study is recruiting pregnant women between the ages of 18-40 with or without an opioid use disorder. If you or someone you know might be interested in learning more about the ROBIN Project please fill out the interest form here: https://redcap.link/robinproject

Are you interested in participating in a research study? Click here for information on our current projects.

FUTURE PROJECTS

New Funding on Social Connectedness and Recovery from Opioid Use Disorder during Postpartum

Congratulations to Alicia Allen, PhD, MPH, associate professor, and Linnea Linde-Krieger, PhD, LCSW, assistant professor. They received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for their study, "Evaluating Social Connectedness to Support Recovery from Opioid Use Disorder during the Postpartum Period."

Their study aims to examine the role of social connectedness in opioid use disorder recovery outcomes during pregnancy and postpartum. This work will support identifying new intervention targets, which will contribute to developing novel, high-impact relapse prevention treatments tailored to the perinatal period, a unique inflection point with ample untapped opportunity.

Team Member Spotlight

Jeri Garfield

Jeri is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. Her clans are of the Towering People clan, born for the Salt clan. Her maternal grandparents are the Folding Arms clan, and her paternal grandparents are the Red House People clan. Jeri is a 2022 graduate of Northern Arizona University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health and is a 2022-2023 PREP@UAZ scholar interning with the RENEW Team. She is passionate about the importance of reproductive health care and rights, youth health, MMIW and LGBTQ+ advocacy, and Native representation in academia and STEM professions.

One of Jeri’s proudest moments working at the RENEW Team is achieving new laboratory skills in biological collection and processing, and interacting with the community.

Welcome to Our New Team Members!

Jen Deschenes

Jen is our new Data Manager for the RENEW Research Team. Jen has a background in public health, data science, and firsthand clinical research experience in pediatric critical care medicine.

Mariana Felix

Mariana is our new Study Coordinator for the forthcoming SOAR Study. Mariana most recently worked as a clinical research coordinator in a COVID-19 study. Her background is in maternal and child health.

Abigail Martinez

Abigail is a UArizona Undergraduate Biology with a focus on Biomedical Sciences, Spanish and Biochemistry. Abigail will be working on both ORCHID and SOAR.

Preeti Sahota

Preeti Sahota is a Research Assistant for the ORCHID study. She is a junior at the University of Arizona pursuing her bachelor's degree in Physiology and Medical sciences with a biochemistry minor.

Team Achievements

Image	Congratulations to COM-T Faculty Excellence Award Winners! Clinical Investigator Award: Alicia Allen, PhD, MPH, associate professor
Image	In August 2023, Jeri Garfield began the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health MPH Program. Congratulations, Jeri!
Image	In July 2023, Emily Crose joined Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine to pursue a career as a physician. Congratulations, Emily!
Image	McKenna Nelson started the NAU's Physician Assistant Program in August 2023 and will be a part of the 2025 graduating class. Congratulations, McKenna!

From Our Partners

TMC Spooktacular Safety Fair

Free hotdogs, drinks, music, inflatables, free booster seats and bike helmets. Families learn to stay safe.
Time and place: Sat, 10/29/2023 - 10:00am to 1:00pm at TMC Rincon Health Campus, 10350 E. Drexel Rd.

Free home visiting programs across Arizona

First Things First supports free home visiting programs across Arizona that provide personalized, in-home support for parents of young children and expecting families.
Programs include: Healthy Families Arizona for infants 3 months and under; Nurse-Family Partnership for prenatal first-time mothers; and Parents as Teachers, for families with children from birth to age 5.
Click HERE for more information and search for programs by region.

Research Findings

Moms' Voice Study

We recently published a paper from our recent Moms' Voice Study. In this study, we interviewed new moms with opioid use disorder, as well as the healthcare professionals who work with them, to find out how we can offer more support for recovery after having a baby. We heard that there are a lot of opportunities for more support from addressing mental health needs (such as postpartum depression), integrating additional sources of support, and streamlining the healthcare system. Both new moms and the healthcare providers in our study emphasized the importance of keeping mom and baby together. To learn more, you can view our paper by clicking the link below.