Current Projects

Broad Population Health Initiatives

1. A GIS approach to waterborne infectious disease: Cryptosporidium

   A project using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to map the presence of live oocysts and environmental data to understand the movement of Cryptosporidium through the environment.

2. ACE Polymorphism in Hispanic/Latino Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

   Study to determine if a specific genetic (DD genotype) makeup occurs more in Hispanic/Latino patients, whether it leads to an increased severity of diabetic nephropathy, and whether the Hispanic/Latino patients are at higher risk for kidney complications as a result of diabetes

3. Aurora UW Medical Group Projects

   The Center for Urban Population Health serves as the primary source of facilitation for AUWMG faculty and resident/student/fellow projects, offering research support and space.

4. Blastomyces dermatitidis

   Various studies exploring the ecology and epidemiology of the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis.

5. Center Scientist Development Program

   A program to engage UW-Milwaukee researchers in Center-related population health research through significant salary and/or research assistant support.

6. Community Health Surveys

   Since 2003, Aurora Health Care, Inc. has regularly conducted a community health assessment survey in a number of Eastern Wisconsin cities and counties.

7. Establishing Benchmarks for Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety

   A project to establish a national benchmarking database for future users of the Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety (SOPS).

8. Geographic Clustering of ADHD in Children

   A study to determine if there is non-random geographic distribution of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the Milwaukee urban area.

9. Latinas Living with HIV

   A project piloting a community based participatory research approach to investigate the health issues and resource needs of urban HIV-infected Latinas residing in Milwaukee.

10. Midwest AIDS Training & Education Center

    To enhance the capacity of clinicians to provide quality health care services for people living with HIV/AIDS and other related co-morbidities.

11. Milwaukee Regional Cancer Care Network

    A network dedicated to breaking down barriers to access of cancer care.

12. Motivational Interviewing for Health Maintenance and Promotion

    In typical standard-of-care settings for healthcare, there is a distinct lack of availability for discussion between physician and patient regarding healthy lifestyle choices. The importance of living a healthy lifestyle is enormous, as it can prevent various diseases, lead to a higher quality of life, and prolong lifespan. Yet, this is not a typical discussion in the average primary care clinic. The Wisconsin Initiative to Promote Healthy Lifestyles (WIPHL) project currently employs the model of using a process of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment. This pilot study uses a similar method to WIPHL by using a prevention specialist instead of a physician to motivate patients to make changes in diet and exercise.

13. Physical Activity Evolution Framework: Refinement Study

    Development of a framework to understand the process of developing long-term physical activity participation in a population of minority women.

14. Piloting the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW) Project Community Advisory Board: Partners in Dissemination

    This project will implement a community-academic partnership to actively involve the lay African American community in Milwaukee in the interpretation, dissemination and translation phases of the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW).

15. Project Health

    The purpose of project health is to develop a curriculum which is designed to support "health competence" among at-risk adolescents in the public school system.

16. Social Network Testing

    This initiative utilizes targeted strategies such as social networks testing to increase identification of persons with undiagnosed HIV and HCV infection within various networks and link them to appropriate medical care and prevention services.

17. Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW)

    An ongoing, population-based survey for observation and research on the health status of the people of the State of Wisconsin.

18. Teen Health Policy Project

    A project to examine multiple school related health policies and whether changes in those policies impact youth health outcomes.

19. Wisconsin Initiative to Promote Healthy Lifestyles (WIPHL)

    An initiative to enhance delivery of substance abuse Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral, and Treatment (SBIRT) services throughout the state of Wisconsin. The Center is coordinating the Milwaukee-based portion of the project.

20. Wisconsin Network for Health Research (WiNHR)

    Providing the infrastructure for a statewide translational research network with the goal of helping Wisconsin become the healthiest state in the nation.

Community Partnerships

1. A GIS approach to waterborne infectious disease: Cryptosporidium

   A project using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to map the presence of live oocysts and environmental data to understand the movement of Cryptosporidium through the environment.

2. Center Scientist Development Program

   A program to engage UW-Milwaukee researchers in Center-related population health research through significant salary and/or research assistant support.

3. Community Health Surveys

   Since 2003, Aurora Health Care, Inc. has regularly conducted a community health assessment survey in a number of Eastern Wisconsin cities and counties.

4. Early Childhood Integrated Database System (ECIDS)

   Development of a database system that will improve collection, storage, and sharing of information among providers of services to young children with disabilities.

5. Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) of Racine

   A project to develop a formal Fetal Infant Mortality Review process to explore prenatal, intrapartal, and neonatal factors that may contribute to the high fetal and infant mortality rate in the city of Racine.

6. Increasing Response to Intimate Partner Violence

   This project will build the capacity of our response systems, both within the LGBT community and the mainstream community, so that LGBT victims of IPV know where to go for help and whom they can trust to be culturally competent.

7. Infant Mortality Action Group

   A multi-disciplinary group of researchers and others working together with the Center for Urban Population Health to conduct research addressing infant mortality.

8. Komen for the Cure® Breast Cancer Community Profile

   A collaboration to complete a community profile describing the state of breast cancer across eight sotheastern Wisconsin counties.

9. Latinas Living with HIV

   A project piloting a community based participatory research approach to investigate the health issues and resource needs of urban HIV-infected Latinas residing in Milwaukee.

10. Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission

    A comprehensive initiative to promote healthy and safe neighborhoods and reduce the occurrence of homicides in Milwaukee County.

11. Milwaukee Regional Cancer Care Network

    A network dedicated to breaking down barriers to access of cancer care.

12. Piloting the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW) Project Community Advisory Board: Partners in Dissemination

    This project will implement a community-academic partnership to actively involve the lay African American community in Milwaukee in the interpretation, dissemination and translation phases of the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW).

13. Social Network Testing

    This initiative utilizes targeted strategies such as social networks testing to increase identification of persons with undiagnosed HIV and HCV infection within various networks and link them to appropriate medical care and prevention services.

14. Wisconsin Project LAUNCH

    Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Wisconsin’s Project LAUNCH will provide primary prevention services in eight central city zip codes in Milwaukee to promote health for infants and children from birth to age 8 years. In partnership with a State Child Wellness Expert, the local program will employ a local Child Wellness Coordinator and a mental health consultant and provide home visiting and parent strengthening services to young children and their families in order to foster wellness in all areas of the life of a young child.

Healthy Aging

1. Development of a Senior Housing Health Environment and Health Behavior Index

   Development of a self-assessment template for physical activity and nutrition modules of the Senior Housing Health Environment and Health Behavior Index to be used for facility assessment, development, and programming.

2. Family Caregiver Self-Management of the Unmet Needs of Persons with Dementia

   Development of an intervention intended to teach family caregivers to self-manage the needs of their family members living with dementia to prevent unmet needs.

3. Utilizing Tailored Step-Count Feedback to Enhance Physical Activity in the Elderly

   Project to develop, implement, and test the efficacy of objective step-count feedback interventions coupled with motivational messaging to promote walking in the elderly.

4. Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention

   A registry that will support genetic, epidemiological and clinical studies to identify and evaluate those factors which may delay or prevent the onset of Alzheimer's Disease.

Health Services

1. A GIS approach to waterborne infectious disease: Cryptosporidium

   A project using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to map the presence of live oocysts and environmental data to understand the movement of Cryptosporidium through the environment.

2. ACE Polymorphism in Hispanic/Latino Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

   Study to determine if a specific genetic (DD genotype) makeup occurs more in Hispanic/Latino patients, whether it leads to an increased severity of diabetic nephropathy, and whether the Hispanic/Latino patients are at higher risk for kidney complications as a result of diabetes

3. Aurora UW Medical Group Projects

   The Center for Urban Population Health serves as the primary source of facilitation for AUWMG faculty and resident/student/fellow projects, offering research support and space.

4. AZithroMycin/Asthma Trial In Community Settings

   A study to investigate whether a 12-week course of azithromycin will improve asthma clinical status up to one year after treatment.

5. Blastomyces dermatitidis

   Various studies exploring the ecology and epidemiology of the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis.

6. Center Scientist Development Program

   A program to engage UW-Milwaukee researchers in Center-related population health research through significant salary and/or research assistant support.

7. Evaluation of Ultrasensitive Troponin Assay to Detect Heart Attack

   An evaluation of the ability of the Ultrasensitive Troponin Assay to detec heart attack in a more accurate and efficient way than the current assay being used in emergency departments.

8. Geographic Clustering of ADHD in Children

   A study to determine if there is non-random geographic distribution of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the Milwaukee urban area.

9. Health Care Task Force on Pre- and Inter-Conception Care

   Aurora Women’s Health Services assembled a Task Force to engage in planning and assessment activities, and then create a 3-year strategic plan to move a women’s health care initiative forward.

10. Infant Mortality Action Group

    A multi-disciplinary group of researchers and others working together with the Center for Urban Population Health to conduct research addressing infant mortality.

11. Maintenance vs. Intermittent Inhaled Steroids in Wheezing Toddlers

    A study to find out if the use of a higher dose of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) can reduce the severity of wheezing symptoms when used only during a cold as compared to a more standard therapy of using a low dose of ICS every day.

12. Midwest AIDS Training & Education Center

    To enhance the capacity of clinicians to provide quality health care services for people living with HIV/AIDS and other related co-morbidities.

13. Milwaukee Regional Cancer Care Network

    A network dedicated to breaking down barriers to access of cancer care.

14. Motivational Interviewing for Health Maintenance and Promotion

    In typical standard-of-care settings for healthcare, there is a distinct lack of availability for discussion between physician and patient regarding healthy lifestyle choices. The importance of living a healthy lifestyle is enormous, as it can prevent various diseases, lead to a higher quality of life, and prolong lifespan. Yet, this is not a typical discussion in the average primary care clinic. The Wisconsin Initiative to Promote Healthy Lifestyles (WIPHL) project currently employs the model of using a process of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment. This pilot study uses a similar method to WIPHL by using a prevention specialist instead of a physician to motivate patients to make changes in diet and exercise.

15. Postpartum Depression (PPD)

    A project designed to respond to calls for innovative, interdisciplinary, community-centered care models that reach Milwaukee families at risk for postpartum depression.

16. Quality of Life and Depression as Determinants of Treatment Adherence in Hypertensive Patients

    Study to determine if symptoms of depression and low quality of life are related to antihypertensive treatment withdrawal.

17. Social Network Testing

    This initiative utilizes targeted strategies such as social networks testing to increase identification of persons with undiagnosed HIV and HCV infection within various networks and link them to appropriate medical care and prevention services.

18. Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW)

    An ongoing, population-based survey for observation and research on the health status of the people of the State of Wisconsin.

19. Utilizing Tailored Step-Count Feedback to Enhance Physical Activity in the Elderly

    Project to develop, implement, and test the efficacy of objective step-count feedback interventions coupled with motivational messaging to promote walking in the elderly.

20. Wisconsin Initiative to Promote Healthy Lifestyles (WIPHL)

    An initiative to enhance delivery of substance abuse Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral, and Treatment (SBIRT) services throughout the state of Wisconsin. The Center is coordinating the Milwaukee-based portion of the project.

21. Wisconsin Network for Health Research (WiNHR)

    Providing the infrastructure for a statewide translational research network with the goal of helping Wisconsin become the healthiest state in the nation.

22. Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention

    A registry that will support genetic, epidemiological and clinical studies to identify and evaluate those factors which may delay or prevent the onset of Alzheimer's Disease.

23. Wisconsin Research and Education Network (WREN)

    A network to improve health outcomes for the people of Wisconsin.

Maternal and Infant Health

1. Barriers to Prenatal Care: African American women's perceptions of racism

   A qualitative study to investigate how the experience of racism in prenatal care affects African American women.

2. Catalog of Initiatives to Address Infant Mortality and Disparities in Birth Outcomes

   A catalog of initiatives that either directly or indirectly relate to addressing issues around disparities in birth outcomes and infant mortality in general.

3. Children with Special Health Care Needs

   A survey to better understand the need and prevalence of Children with Special Health Care Needs in the City of Milwaukee.

4. Early Childhood Integrated Database System (ECIDS)

   Development of a database system that will improve collection, storage, and sharing of information among providers of services to young children with disabilities.

5. Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) of Racine

   A project to develop a formal Fetal Infant Mortality Review process to explore prenatal, intrapartal, and neonatal factors that may contribute to the high fetal and infant mortality rate in the city of Racine.

6. Geographic Clustering of ADHD in Children

   A study to determine if there is non-random geographic distribution of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the Milwaukee urban area.

7. Group Prenatal Care for Vulnerable Pregnant Teens

   Group prenatal care through a modified delivery model that empowers them to take more control and ownership of their care and increases their social support network through greater interaction with their pregnant peers.

8. Health Care Task Force on Pre- and Inter-Conception Care

   Aurora Women’s Health Services assembled a Task Force to engage in planning and assessment activities, and then create a 3-year strategic plan to move a women’s health care initiative forward.

9. Identification of Risk Factors for Adverse Outcomes for Second Births to Teenage Mothers

   A study identifying repeat teen mothers in City of Milwaukee birth records and examining risk factors associated with second births to teenage mothers.

10. Infant Mortality Action Group

    A multi-disciplinary group of researchers and others working together with the Center for Urban Population Health to conduct research addressing infant mortality.

11. Influence of Socioeconomic Factors and Race on Birth Outcomes

    A study examining the influence of socioeconomic status and race on birth outcomes in the City of Milwaukee.

12. Join the Fight Against Infant Mortality!

    Learn more about how you can help in the fight against infant mortality.

13. Latinas Living with HIV

    A project piloting a community based participatory research approach to investigate the health issues and resource needs of urban HIV-infected Latinas residing in Milwaukee.

14. Milwaukee County Breastfeeding Coalition

    A proposal to improve the health and nutrition of infants in Milwaukee County by increasing breastfeeding rates.

15. PeriData.Net

    PeriData.Net®, a comprehensive web-based perinatal database, was created by a partnership among the Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care (WAPC), the Center for Urban Population Health, and Wisconsin birth hospitals. PeriData.Net serves as a platform for hospitals’ internal administrative reporting and quality management functions and for secure electronic submission of selected fields to vital records and other external data registries.

16. Possible Complications of Infections during Pregnancy

    A Wisconsin Network for Health Research project exploring possible contributors to preterm labor.

17. Postpartum Depression (PPD)

    A project designed to respond to calls for innovative, interdisciplinary, community-centered care models that reach Milwaukee families at risk for postpartum depression.

18. Safe Mom, Safe Baby

    An evidence-based, collaborative model for providing sensitive and effective services to pregnant women experiencing Intimate Partner Violence in Milwaukee.

19. Setting a Goal to Reduce Teen Births

    A project to develop a feasible goal to reduce births for teenagers aged 15-17 years by 2015 for the City of Milwaukee based on historical teen birth data trends.

20. The Young Parenthood Study - Milwaukee

    A study testing the Young Parenthood Program, a preventive-intervention couples-focused program designed to help pregnant adolescents and their partners develop the skills to maintain positive co-parenting.

21. United Way of Greater Milwaukee Healthy Girls Evaluation

    Project to identify and report on common outcomes as part of an evaluation of all funded organizations of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee's Healthy Girls funding stream.

22. Wisconsin Project LAUNCH

    Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Wisconsin’s Project LAUNCH will provide primary prevention services in eight central city zip codes in Milwaukee to promote health for infants and children from birth to age 8 years. In partnership with a State Child Wellness Expert, the local program will employ a local Child Wellness Coordinator and a mental health consultant and provide home visiting and parent strengthening services to young children and their families in order to foster wellness in all areas of the life of a young child.

Youth Violence and Violent Crime Prevention

1. Increasing Response to Intimate Partner Violence

   This project will build the capacity of our response systems, both within the LGBT community and the mainstream community, so that LGBT victims of IPV know where to go for help and whom they can trust to be culturally competent.

2. Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission

   A comprehensive initiative to promote healthy and safe neighborhoods and reduce the occurrence of homicides in Milwaukee County.