Barbara Given, associate dean for research for the College of Nursing. Photo by G.L. Kohuth.

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Barbara Given, associate dean for research for the College of Nursing, has spent years teaching and conducting research. But her biggest joy is seeing young students and future researchers bring their ideas to fruition.

“The fun is to watch the new ideas and see the new, young researchers get their grants funded, their articles accepted and the new ideas,” Given said. “There are some new, really neat ideas.”

Given’s own research has focused on symptom management for cancer patients. Currently, she is working to secure funding to transfer her symptom management system into a Web-based platform for patients and caregivers.

Cancer research is one area Given and her colleagues in the College of Nursing are exploring. Nursing faculty has research devoted to obesity, nutrition for new mothers, genetics and Alzheimer’s disease.

“Our recent funding has to do with genetics and dementia and trying to understand the behaviors that family members have and how we can help them in the home longer,” Given said.

“And another new one is looking at sedentary kids in the school system and trying to increase their physical activity and trying to understand what might promote them to do so.”

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