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PORTLAND, Maine

UNE students awarded $5,000 in cancer research grants

Three groups of students at the University of New England were recently awarded grants totaling $5,000 from the Northern New England Clinical Oncological Society (NNECOS) to study various aspects of cancer treatment.

Eight students from the Doctor of Physical Therapy class of 2016 received $1,500 for their study: “A review of screening processes for physical distress and appropriate outcome measures for outpatient rehabilitation referral in cancer survivorship.” The purpose of the project is to identify the most appropriate physical distress screening tools that will assist clinicians in determining when a referral is indicated for wellness and/or rehabilitation services in outpatient cancer care facilities. The project will also identify appropriate outcome measures to help determine when oncology rehabilitation referral is indicated in outpatient cancer survivors.

Five undergraduate students from the class of 2017 majoring in Health, Wellness and Occupational Studies and Medical Biology were awarded a $2,500 grant for their project: “Improving the treatment of cancer-related pain through interprofessional education and patient engagement.” The students will create three video narratives with case studies and corresponding facilitator notes focused on cancer-related pain and its treatment. Teams of undergraduate students will collaborate with faculty members and health care professionals to interview patients experiencing cancer-related pain. Materials will be crafted with the intent of training future practitioners to become better prepared for the challenges of preventing and managing cancer-related pain.

Dental students received $1,000 for their project: “The current dental and interprofessional management of geriatric patients undergoing head and neck cancer treatment in nursing homes in the U.S.: Literature review.” This literature review project will study current understanding and management of the dental needs for patients under oncology treatment, as well as how interprofessional health care providers provide support for oral hygiene maintenance and rehabilitation. 

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.