Duke SOM's Sabrena Myers has been selected for the Duke Clinical & Translational Science Institute's TL1 Pre-Doctoral Scholarship Program. She will be working with faculty from the MFM Division.
The program offers clinical and translational research experience and training for predoctoral students in medicine. This year, seven new scholars were selected to join the program.
Working alongside Geeta Swamy, MD, and Sarahn Wheeler, MD, Sabrena's research focuses on physician’s adherence to the USPSTF guidelines for the use of low dose aspirin for pre-eclampsia prevention and predictors of guideline adherence in nulliparous patients.
“Preterm birth remains a leading cause of prenatal morbidity and mortality,” Myers said. “Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) women consistently have PTB rates that are 49% higher compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Preeclampsia accounts for a significant portion of these PTBs. Infants born preterm may face life-long health problems. Low dose aspirin is recommended for preeclampsia prevention; we want to identify barriers to optimal utilization, particularly among NHB women.”
One of Myers’s long-term research goals is to work alongside Dr. Wheeler to develop a community-participatory intervention to improve adherence to preterm birth preventive therapies. After hearing from several friends who had completed the TL1 program, she thought it would be a great way to develop the skills necessary to become a successful clinical researcher.
Myers’s proposed work will serve as the foundation for a future intervention aimed at improving adherence to low dose aspirin guidelines in pregnancy. “I’m excited that this program allows me to invest two years in developing this project alongside Dr. Swamy and Dr. Wheeler. Also, looking forward to tailoring my second-year classes to reflect further my interest in health disparities and patient-reported outcomes in clinical research.” she said. “I’m so glad the Clinical Research Training Program leaders wanted to invest in my future as a clinical researcher.”
— Duke CTSI website