The Center for Community Health Partnership and Research is pleased to announce three partnerships were selected to receive funding through the 2025-2026 Partnership Development and Sustainability Support (PDSS) program. PDSS awards provide up to $10,000 in funding for investigators and their community partner(s) to support their new or existing partnership efforts over a 12-month period. The goal is to support partners in developing their relationships, skills, and capacity to facilitate future research collaborations and strengthen community-academic partnerships.
This year’s awarded partnerships are:
Kia Davis, MPH, ScD, Assistant Professor, WashU
Summary: We are developing a community-academic-medical partnership that includes physicians, researchers, and community members. Community members will consist of breast cancer survivors, patient advocates, caregivers, and/or residents who are interested in reducing breast cancer disparities. Our partnership will establish their shared values and receive training in qualitative methods. With this foundation, we will work to understand the breast cancer treatment experience locally to later adapt an evidence-based, systems-level intervention to Siteman Cancer Center to reduce the breast cancer treatment disparity between Black and White women.
Dr. Davis with Angels with a Vision and Valeda’s Hope
Kelly Harris, MA, PhD, CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor, WashU
Summary: Asthma, the most common chronic condition affecting youth, disproportionately impacts Black youth and children living in poverty. Reducing triggers in the home improves health outcomes, reduces healthcare utilization, and improves health equity. Existing programs that target asthma management through environmental interventions are under-implemented among vulnerable populations. This proposal aims to (1) establish a Community-Based Collaborative team with local community organizations and (2) identify determinants of asthma management within our local community, including health questions and outcomes prioritized by community shareholders.
Dr. Harris with Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America-Midstates Chapter, Beyond Housing, and Metropolitan Congregations United
Jessica Kersey, PhD, Assistant Professor, WashU
Summary: This proposal will sustain a new community partnership between Jessica Kersey and the Brain Injury Association of Missouri. This partnership aims to improve health, participation, and quality of life among people living in the community with brain injury. We have made great strides in formalizing our partnership, establishing a vision for our partnership, guiding values, and a strategic plan. Through this process, we have identified additional specific infrastructure and training needs, which will be developed with the support of this funding.
Dr. Kersey with Brain Injury Association of Missouri