Nurse scientists seek clinical trial participants Studies involve pain management and prevention of post-stroke depression
Two Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston researchers are now recruiting patients for studies funded by large federal grants they received last year.
Jennifer E.S. Beauchamp, PhD, RN, FAAN, is seeking stroke survivors for a study of an intervention to prevent post-stroke depression, while Jennifer Kawi, PhD, MSN, FNP-BC, CNE, FAAN, is recruiting rural patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain to help test nonpharmacological pain management approaches.
Both clinical trials are free, and patients may receive incentives for participation.
LIVE-WEL
In May 2025, Beauchamp received a $6.48 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to fund the study “BehavioraL ActIvation for the PreVention of Post-strokE Depression in LoW-incomE OLder Stroke Survivors (LIVE-WEL) (R01MH140091).”
She is seeking about 300 low-income participants ages 55 and older who live at home. Patients must register within three months of experiencing their first stroke.
The behavioral activation intervention focuses on identifying behaviors that positively affect mood. In other words, patients are encouraged to do things that make them feel good. Community health workers who are trained as lay counselors deliver the intervention via remote, video-enabled sessions.
To learn more about the study, visit the English- or Spanish-language versions of the patient recruitment webpage.
Beauchamp is an associate professor in the Department of Research, director of the Mental Health Program at the UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, and the Nancy B. Willerson Distinguished Professor in Nursing.
Auricular point acupressure
Kawi received a $5.98 million grant in September 2025 from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of NIH for the UH3 phase of her U grant series. The award is part of the NIH’s Helping to End Addiction Long-term® (HEAL) Initiative. It funds the four-year study, “Personalized Auricular Point Acupressure for Chronic Pain Self-Management in Rural Populations (UH3AT012728).”
Auricular point acupressure involves stimulating specific points on the ear that correspond to body parts in pain. Pressure is applied to small seeds secured to standardized areas on patients’ ears based on their pain location. The intervention involves no needles, injections, or pills, and participants receive the English or Spanish version of a free mobile app that does not track personally identifiable information.
For the study, Kawi is recruiting about 700 participants ages 18-85 living with chronic musculoskeletal pain in the neck, back, or joints who live in rural areas of Texas and South Carolina. Her team developed an English webpage and a Spanish version with more details.
Kawi is a professor in the Department of Research and the Mary C. and Christopher J. Pappas Family Distinguished Chair in Nursing.
