# Clinical and Translational Science Award

> **NIH NIH UL1** · MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · 2022 · $146,649

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Specific Aims. Despite the role that churches play in effective community engagement of African American
populations, it is not well known how to identify churches that will be successful in implementation. While a few
studies have described readiness to change assessments, particularly among faith-based organizations, the
tools have been limited in the type of factors they assess to determine readiness. The proposed project will
allow me to investigate the church’s readiness to engage church members in health promotion (Aim 1) and to
take a deep dive into leadership support (Aim 2). The short term goal of the project to complete a church
readiness assessment and to describe the readiness of the church to participate in health promotion and
research during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Candidate’s Background. I have a BS in Biology from Oakwood University, a MS in health education from the
University of Michigan-Flint, and a PhD in health behavior and health education from the University of
Michigan.
Career Goals and Objectives. My long-term career objective is to become an independent investigator who
specializes in health disparities in cancer and CVD among underserved minorities.
Career Development and Training Plan. During the two years of the proposal, I will complete didactic training
and mentoring to advance my skills in community engagement, dissemination and implantation, and program
evaluation. My training includes: 1) coursework, 2)workshops, 3)professional conferences, and 4)research
project focused on community engagement. This will increase my capacity as a researcher to be able to adapt
and disseminate effective interventions.
Research Strategy. To accomplish my aims, I will use a mixed methods approach, including a survey of
church members and key informant interviews with pastors to assess proximal factors such as community and
organizational climate; attitudes towards prevention and health promotion programming; commitment to
change; and capacity to implement change to understand readiness to implement new health promotion
programming and research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10517947
- **Project number:** 3UL1TR001436-08S2
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN
- **Principal Investigator:** REZA NONE SHAKER
- **Activity code:** UL1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $146,649
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2015-08-18 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10517947

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10517947, Clinical and Translational Science Award (3UL1TR001436-08S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10517947. Licensed CC0.

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