Research

Research > Biobehavioral Research Center > About

 

What Is Biobehavioral Research?

Biobehavioral research within the discipline of nursing emphasizes the study of the interrelationships among biological, behavioral, psychological, social, and spiritual factors that influence wellness and disease. The broad framework of biobehavioral research takes into consideration the belief, common to the nursing discipline, that human beings embody biological, behavioral, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions and that these dimensions interact on a continual basis. This integrative focus is critical to advancing nursing practice toward a new vision of true holistic care.

 

Specific Aims of the BRC

As a whole, the BRC has three specific aims, developed to support the overall goal of the center:

  1. Develop a cadre of nurse scientists with expertise in the integration of biological and behavioral sciences.
  2. Develop programs of biobehavioral research that promote health, prevent disease, and improve nursing care across the lifespan.
  3. Disseminate research findings that integrate biological and behavioral sciences to impact nursing care across the lifespan.
 

Staff

Director

Joyce Stechmiller, PhD, ARNP
Associate Professor in the Department of Adult & Elderly Nursing
stechjk@nursing.ufl.edu

Research Assistant Manager

Elizabeth Victor
evictor@nursing.ufl.edu

 

Administrative Structure




Executive Committee

The Executive Committee, along with the center's director, is responsible for allocating center funds, identifying and selecting key personnel, and planning and evaluating the center activities. As such, it is the decision-making body of the BRC. The Administrative and Pilot Cores make recommendations for action to the Executive Committee.

Members of the Executive Committee

Joyce Stechmiller, PhD, ARNP, Director of the Administrative Core
Shawn Kneipp, PhD, ARNP, Director of the Pilot Core
Lisa Miller, CPA, MBA, Business Official
Ann Horgas, PhD, RN, Associate Dean for Research, UF College of Nursing
Gary Stevens, PhD, Statistician
Jennifer Elder, PhD, RN, FAAN
Susan Schaffer, PhD, ARNP, BC
Charlene Krueger, PhD, RN
Nancy Menzel, PhD, ARNP, BC, COHN-S

 

Patient Safety Data Monitoring Committee

Specific aims of the committee

The specific aims of the Patient Safety Data Monitoring Committee are to

  1. Review research protocols and plans for data and safety monitoring.
  2. Evaluate the progress of the trials, including periodic assessments of data quality and timeliness; participant recruitment, accrual and retention; participant risk versus benefit; performance of trial sites; and other factors that can affect study outcome.
  3. Consider scientific or therapeutic developments that may have an impact on the safety of the participants or the ethics of the study.
  4. Make recommendations to the investigators concerning continuation or conclusion of the trials based on preliminary data analyses when 1/3 of data are collected and 2/3 of data are collected. Principal investigators have the responsibility of alerting the committee when they reach these set points and calling for a meeting to review the data.
  5. Protect the confidentiality of the trial data and the results of monitoring.
  6. Evaluate whether the investigators have conflicts of interests with or financial stakes in the research outcome; and when these conflicts exist, develop a system to manage these in a reasonable manner.
  7. Provide a summary of patient safety findings at BRC Executive Committee meetings.

Members of the Patient Safety Data Monitoring Committee

Joyce Stechmiller, PhD, ARNP, Director of the Administrative Core
Gary Stevens, PhD, Statistician

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Primary Navigation