UT Grand Challenge Grants

Awarded and Advancing

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Type 1 – Awarded

Projects with budgets up to $100,000.

Campus identifiers for project teams:
UTC – UT Chattanooga
UTK – UT Knoxville
UTHSC – UT Health Science Center
UTM – UT Martin
UTS – UT Southern
UTK-UTIA – UT Institute of Agriculture
UTK-SI – UT Space Institute
IPS – Institute for Public Service
External – External collaborators and partners

Awarded Projects

Access + Content + Language = STEM Learning for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Youths (ACL=STEM)

Culturally and linguistically diverse youths (CLDYs), the fastest growing student population in Tennessee, face numerous educational challenges and achievement gaps. They are underrepresented in high-paying careers within science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, partly due to limited access to STEM courses and content that is inaccessible to them in K-12 settings. To close this opportunity gap, CLDYs need learning opportunities beyond the classroom. ACL=STEM will ensure that CLDYs engage with STEM content while developing academic English necessary for successful learning. The specific goals are to (1) develop a project-based engineering curriculum for 6th and 7th grades that emphasizes building academic content literacy, (2) implement it in an after-school program where 6th and 7th grade CLDYs are mentored by bilingual UTK engineering students, (3) evaluate the program’s impact on participants’ mastery of STEM concepts and their use of content-specific academic English, (4) understand CLDYs’ perceptions of language support in accessing STEM content, and (5) examine STEM identity development in participants. ACL=STEM is transformative because it improves STEM learning for CLDYs and addresses inequities in STEM education by creating a community-driven, sustainable educational structure not feasible in K-12 public education.

Team: UTK, UTC, External

Clara Lee Brown, Ed.D., Associate Professor of ESL Education in the Department of Theory & Practice in Teacher Education (TPTE)
Betsy Chesnutt, Ph.D., Lecturer in Engineering Fundamentals (EF), Tickle College of Engineering
Graduate Research Assistant 1: Instructor
Graduate Research Assistant 2: Data Collection
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) at UTK: Mentors/tutors
Dr. Stephanie Philip, STEM faculty member at UT Chattanooga
Knox County Northwest Middle School Administrators: Recruiting ELs

Thermal runaway in EV batteries: a transformational PBL unit for high school chemistry

The goal of this project is to design a problem-based learning (PBL) unit for high school chemistry that involves engagement with local community partners and features scientific phenomena that are culturally relevant, engaging, and evidence-based. This PBL unit will be centered around thermal runaway in electronic devices, which is a critical area of research and innovation given the push towards electric vehicles in the US and elsewhere. Participating students will produce three tangible deliverables: (1) a small-scale apparatus for preventing thermal runaway; (2) an electrochemical device that fits inside this apparatus; and (3) a public safety notice related to the use of Lithium-ion devices. Each step of the way students will be interacting with various outside partners, strategically placed to match their expertise with content being explored in the chemistry classroom.

Team: UTC, UTK-SI, External

Bradley Harris, Director of Chemical Engineering in the UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS)
Stephanie Philipp, Director of the STEM Education Program at UTC,
Ethan Schubert, the Science Department Head and Lead Teacher of the Future Ready Institute at Brainerd High School (BHS), will also serve as co-PI for the project.
Peng Zhao, Associate Professor, Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering, UT Space Institute

Machine Learning Approach to Studying the Intersection of SDoH, Physiological Psychological Well-being, and Academic Performance, and Subsequent Holistic Intervention Development (TennWell Project)

Adolescence is a critical period for development. Increased trauma and stress can weaken the immune system, leading to higher absenteeism and hindering educational progress. Holistic interventions that address mental and physical health and academic achievement are essential for effective recovery and development. In collaboration with Emerald Youth Foundation, we are studying post-pandemic health in local adolescents, with a focus on how the gut microbiome, refers to the collection of microorganisms like bacteria in our intestine, impacts the immune and neuroendocrine systems.  Specifically, our research explores how stress and trauma influence the gut microbiome, leading to physical and mental health issues potentially contributing to increased absenteeism and academic challenges. By expanding our existing Adolescent Microbiome Study to include Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), we are optimizing resources and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. This study aims to inform future interventions that enhance well-being and academic success. The project consists of two phases: 1) collecting data on SDoH, psychological health, the gut microbiome, and academics, and 2) implementing Machine Learning to analyze the findings.

Team: UTK, UTC, External

Ji Youn Yoo (PI), Anujit Sarkar, and Maureen Groer: College of Nursing
Kristen Ravi: College of Social Work
Hyunhee Kim: Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling
Cynthia Navarro Flores: Department of Psychology
Marsha Spence: Department of Nutrition
Marissa McElrone – Chronic Disease Program Coordinator, Dept. of Health and Human Performance, UTC
Patricia Kohl: Washington University in St. Louis and the Brown School of Social Work, the Hermann Center for Child and Family Development in the Division for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Susan Dalton: Emerald Youth Center

Clyde Austin All Inclusive Therapy Garden

The Clyde Austin All Inclusive Therapy Garden will advance K-12 education by creating a model that uses therapeutic gardening as workforce development. Being in nature enhances learning, reduces stress, promotes physical health, and connects curriculum to real-world relevance. However, youth with disabilities may struggle to connect to the environment for several reasons, including physical barriers that limit access to natural spaces, sensory issues that can be overwhelmed in outdoor settings, and limited opportunities for inclusive learning tailored to their needs and abilities. With intentional planning, a therapeutic garden can empower youth with disabilities by nurturing their skills, fostering independence, and cultivating a sense of purpose, thus preparing them for meaningful workforce integration and contributing to a more inclusive society.

This proposal will install an accessible therapeutic garden and make mobility accessible modifications to Clyde Austin 4-H Center. This garden will be the first of its kind at 4-H Centers in TN, however this model could easily be replicated at other centers. Our project will help special education and special needs youth understand where their food comes from while also teaching skills to prepare them for the workforce. Workforce development skills will focus on gardening, horticulture, and cultivating produce.

Team: UTK-UTIA, UTM, External

Clyde Austin 4-H Center:
Scottie Fillers (PI) – Center Director;
Tanner Pruett (Co-PI) – 4-H Camp Educator; Michael Stapleton – Program Assistant; JR Arnold – Ext. Assistant
4-H Camping Specialist; Lynne Middleton – 4-H Curriculum Specialist; Aaron Spurling – 4-H STEM Specialist; Jennifer Richards – Extension Teaching & Learning Specialist
Whitney Hale – UT Gardens, Knoxville
Wes Totten – UTM – UT Martin Plant and Soil Science, Chair Dept. of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources
Greene County Schools; Greeneville City Schools; Comcare

Beyond Traditional Boundaries: Introducing 4-H students to Gen-AI Through Immersive Learning Experiences (ILEs)

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) such as ChatGPT and similar AI tools require educators to rethink current curricular, pedagogical, and assessment practices. In Tennessee, most school systems block student access to GenAI tools, citing fears that they encourage students to plagiarize and undermine the goals of formal education. Given that instructional time and pedagogy are limited due to rigid standards and testing focus, formal classroom settings are not feasible for teaching AI. We need access points to students beyond traditional K-12 classrooms to design effective pedagogical approaches. In this project, we will explore, characterize, and compare how students in grades 7-12 use GenAI (Bing Copilot) and Bing Search through three project activities: Design and implement a three-day Immersive Learning Experience (ILE) for the students and Collect and analyze data of student’s usage of the CoPilot and Bing Search. The ILEs will be held at each of the four TN 4-H Camping and STEM centers to engage students in deep learning, enhance their self-efficacy and competency in GenAI, and raise awareness of AI issues (e.g., ethics, bias, privacy, safety). We will employ a mixed-method approach with a pretest/posttest design to assess the impact of the ILE and develop an AI literacy model.

Team: UTK, UTK-UTIA

Dania Bilal (PI), Professor of Information Sciences, College of Communication and Information, UTK
Mehmet Aydeniz (Co-PI), Professor of STEM Education, College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, UTK
Jennifer Richards (Co-PI), Associate Professor and UT Extension Teaching & Learning Specialist, Herbert College of Agriculture. Executive Director, Children Learning through Outdoor Experience (ChLOE). UTK
Jamie Harris, State Program Leader, Tennessee 4-H & Youth Development, UTIA.

Neurodivergent Education Transition (NET)

Neurodivergent Education Transition is a partnership between neurodivergent self-advocates, the Mosaic Program, UTC, and other system partners.  This grant proposal seeks to address a critical need in supporting students’ successful transition from high school to college and beyond. Currently, many neurodivergent individuals face significant challenges navigating collegiate expectations, leading to reduced college graduation rates, along with decreased academic and career success. Recognizing this need, Mosaic has developed an innovative approach centered on the impacts of neurodiversity based on data collected over two decades of providing college support services.  Features of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504s combined with self-advocacy and certain college readiness skills are believed to be key indicators for a successful college transition. We will identify proactive measures that families and exceptional education staff can implement to optimize the transition to higher education.  

Team: UTC, UTK, UTM, UTHSC, External

Mosaic – Amy Rutherford, LPC-MHSP, Anne Hill, Hayleigh Weissenbach, MSCJ
School of Education – Amanda Hardin (School Psy), April Wilson, MSW (Social Work)
Neurodivergent Self-Advocate -TBA student(s)
External Partners:
Hamilton County Schools (Regional Schools)
Vocational Rehabilitation Services – Kathy White
College Autism Network
UTM – Disability Services
UTHSC – Dr. Bruce Keisling
UTK – Disability Services

I.D.E.A.L. Citizenry: Innovative Designs that Engage Active Learning for Citizenry

I.D.E.A.L. Citizenry: Innovative Designs that Engage Active Learning for Citizenry. Through a train-the-trainer approach, participants will develop innovative curricular guides and lessons focused on improving students’ literacy skills and civic engagement with news-media. The project will emphasize collaboration between teachers, district administrators, outside experts, and researchers. The project will evaluate participants’ preparation to effectively teach students literacy skills that coincide with civic engagement before evaluating students’ learning experiences and reading comprehension. The program will also equip participants with specialized knowledge and resources, to enhance their capacity to act as transformative leaders within and beyond their school environments. We will share all curricular materials via a free open-education resource.

Team: UTK, UTK Baker Institute, UTC, UTK-UTIA, External

IDEAL team – UT, Knoxville scholars from CEHHS’s Theory & Practice in Teacher Ed (Joshua Kenna, PhD, Social Science Ed; TPTE Dir of Grad Studies & Asso Prof of Soc Science Ed (PI); Zoi Traga Philippakos, PhD, Literacy; Asso Prof of Lit Ed) and Baker School Institute of American Civics (IAC) (Josh Dunn, PhD, Pol Science; Prof & IAC Ex Dir; Frankie Weaver, PhD, History; Ed. Outreach Prog Manager, TN Civics Academy Dir). Vice Chan Dr. Samuel and Baker School Dir, Dr. Ring will support.
Kim Holder – Managing Director of UTC Center for Economic Education
Lynne Middleton – Curriculum Development and Extension Specialist 4-H

Reading The Room | Navigating Social Interactions

Reading the Room is a 10-week program under development from a partnership between the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, the Mosaic Program, UTC and other system partners. This early intervention will enhance social development for neurodivergent teens and young adults through role play activities, simulations, and workshops. Participating students will develop the skills and insights needed to move more securely through society, providing students with engaging content while fostering growth in social interaction, situational interpretation, and self-confidence. Being able to read the room will enhance student’s ability to navigate the lifespan throughout educational transitions and career. Furthermore, this is one of a few supports (of its kind) targeting neurodivergent students with interests in the fine arts and creative expression. 

Team: UTC, UTM, UTHSC, UTK, External

Co-Project Lead | Amy Rutherford, MEd, LPC MHSP, NCC, Mosaic Program Director
Co-Project Lead Amanda Hardin, Psy.D., NCSP, School of Education, UTC
Project Assistant | Anne Hill, BS, Mosaic Program
Consultant and Training Experts | TBD,
Must Include Student Neurodivergent Self-Advocate(s), TBA
UTC School of Education Staff:
Graduate Assistant | TBD
Chattanooga Theatre Centre Staff:
Co-Project Lead | Chuck Tuttle, MFA, Director of Education and Innovation
Project Assistant | Mary Eliza Hendricks, BA
Intimacy Coach | Amber Brown, BA
UTM – Paul Pharris UT Martin Visual and Theatre Arts
UTHSC – Dr. Bruce Keisling
UTK – Autistic Self Advocates

STEM Subsidy Project at Coon Creek Science Center

Coon Creek Science Center is a world-famous Cretaceous fossil site and the home of the official Tennessee State Fossil, the Pterotrigonia Scabrotrigonia Thoracia, in McNairy County, Tennessee. In an effort to advance K-12 STEM education and strengthen our rural communities, this proposal is to offer a STEM subsidy for field trips and camps at Coon Creek. This will give deserving K-12 kids the opportunity to experience CCSC, explore aspects of science in an experiential learning setting, and learn many new skills that are transferrable to other areas. This funding will bridge the gap between rural education’s lack of resources to provide educational experiences outside the classroom and Coon Creek’s unique history and location to offer programs accessible to area students regardless of their ability to pay. We look forward to hosting thousands of students with this grant and offering scientific experiential learning to area schools through this subsidy.

Team: UTM, UTK-UTIA, UTHSC, External

University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Agriculture, Geoscience, and Natural Resources
University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Chemistry & Physics
University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Biological Sciences
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture – Lone Oaks Farm
University of Tennessee Health Science Center – Memphis
McNairy County Schools
McNairy County Tourism

Science Pedagogy Support System (SPSS)

The Science Pedagogy Support System (SPSS) is a collaboration among UT Martin, UT Southern, and Haywood, Tipton, & Giles County Schools. The SPSS will provide training and equipment for grade 6 & 7 rural science teachers to implement phenomenon-based learning.

New TN science standards call for science instruction using the three dimensions of disciplinary core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and science and engineering practices.

 Students should “learn science by doing science.” Teachers must present observable phenomena and allow students to form questions and investigate to understand the world. Most teachers have inadequate training for these challenging tasks. The SPSS provides training based on ideas from OpenSciEd.  

The SPSS innovates with duration, geography, and portability. Effective training occurs over time, and the SPSS will use nine days across a summer and school year with ongoing online discussion. With this duration, teachers may try, learn, and become confident to try again. The SPSS will work with groups of contiguous counties to build a cohort of teachers large enough to support each other without travelling far.  The SPSS will be portable across any curriculum and may be expanded to additional groups of contiguous counties in the future.  

Team: UTM, UTS

Alex Aitken, Director of Science for Haywood County Schools is UTM adjunct faculty and former biology teacher.
Tyler Cosby, Assist. Prof. of Chemistry, UTS, engages teachers in STEM education experiences.
Steve Elliott directs the STEM Center for Teaching and Learning at UTM.

Awarded Projects

Feasibility of Implementing Personalized eHealth Program through Fitness Wearable and Application Among Rural Cancer Survivors

Rural cancer survivors encounter unique challenges, and physical activity significantly impacts their well-being. Unfortunately, most struggle to meet the recommended physical activity levels. To tackle this issue, our interdisciplinary team aims to develop and implement an innovative, scalable, and sustainable AI-based personalized fitness program. We’ll leverage eHealth technologies, including integrated fitness wearables and apps to enable data-driven personalization. Our Objective is to shift from generic eHealth programs to an AI-based personalized eHealth solution for rural cancer survivors. The project is innovative as it employs novel methodologies (e.g., app refinement, reinforcement learning, and algorithm development) and addresses health disparities among rural cancer survivors. It will guide health professionals and communities toward affordable, remote eHealth programs.

Team: UTK, UTHSC, External

Zan Gao, Professor and Department Head; Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies (KRSS);
Weizi Li, Assistant Professor; Electrical Engineering and Computer Science;
Xiaopeng Zhao, Professor; Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering;
Jian Liu, Assistant Professor; Electrical Engineering and Computer Science;
John Bell, Professor; Cancer Institute, UT College of Medicine (UTHSC);
Ashton Brooks, Assistant Professor; Cancer Institute, UT College of Medicine (UTHSC);
Christopher Brett, Assistant Professor; Cancer Institute, UT College of Medicine (UTHSC);


STrengthening RUral Immunization Training, Uniting Health Initiatives in TN (STRUT UT)

Hesitancy to vaccinate remains a problem in the United States and has been cited recently as one of the top ten global health threats. According to the CDC, Tennessee’s most vulnerable counties have the lowest vaccination rates.

The UTHSC College of Nursing and the UT Knoxville Extension Office have partnered to leverage both institution’s strengths in healthcare education and outreach to rural communities.  The project plans to establish nurse liaisons in rural primary care clinics to work with UT Extension Agents to develop healthcare providers’ motivational interviewing skills and disseminate vaccine education.

The identified need addresses vaccine hesitancy among adult rural residents in West Tennessee. This hesitancy poses a significant barrier to achieving optimal immunization rates in these communities, leading to increased vulnerability to vaccine-preventable diseases.

Developing motivational interviewing skills and disseminating education materials specifically designed to address vaccine hesitancy in rural and underserved populations demonstrates a commitment to community engagement and empowerment. By tailoring materials to these communities’ unique needs and concerns, the program seeks to build trust and confidence in adult immunizations.

Team: UTHSC, UTK-UTIA, External

Diana Dedmon, UTHSC CoN
Laura Clark, UT Extension Eastern Region 
Shelley Miller, UTHSC CoN
Lisa Beasley, UTHSC CoN

Mobile Inter-professional Tandem Service Model to Enhance Audiology and Speech Pathology Care and Outcomes in Rural East TN

UTHSC ASP and UTK SW propose a mobile, interprofessional tandem service model to eliminate top barriers to health care accessibility in rural TN to high need areas via a van will carry equipment, materials, and professionals to evaluate and treat hearing, language, and speech disorders in people of all ages.

Team: UTHSC, UTK, External

Ashley W. Harkrider, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, UTHSC ASP
Rachel Ross, LCSW, Associate Professor, UTK SW
Saravanan Elangovan, PhD, CCC-A, UTHSC ASP
Allison Wegman, MA, CCC-SLP, UTHSC ASP
Julie Beeler, MA, CCC-A/SLP, UTHSC ASP
Kalyn Barton, DHA, Business Manager, UTHSC ASP
UTK SW Students
UTHSC AUD and MS SLP Students
External Partners:
Including but not limited to: Grainger Co. Schools, Hamblen Co. Schools, Union Co. Schools, Grainger Co. Office on Aging, Anderson Co. Office on Aging & Senior

Rural Expansion of Access to Genetic Counseling and Healthcare through AI Innovations (REACH)

This project aims to address the significant disparities in genetic counseling services available to rural communities in Tennessee. With only 0.72 genetic counselors per 100,000 people, many rural residents face delayed diagnoses and suboptimal treatment. REACH seeks to bridge this gap by developing a cutting-edge AI platform that provides high-quality, personalized genetic counseling remotely.

This AI platform will employ advanced machine learning, natural language processing, and telemedicine technologies to analyze patient data, offer risk assessments, educational materials, and facilitate virtual consultations. The platform is designed with a user-friendly interface, multilingual support, and compatibility with assistive technologies to ensure accessibility. It will initially focus on targeted variant testing and cascade testing, with plans to expand to newborn screening education.

The project will engage with stakeholders to secure long-term support and expand the platform’s reach. The ultimate goal is to enhance rural healthcare capacity, reduce disparities, and advance the responsible use of AI in genetic counseling, ensuring better health outcomes for rural Tennesseans.

Team: UTHSC, UTK, External

Dr. Xiaopeng Zhao (Program Director of AI Initiatives, UTK)
Dr. Chester Brown (Professor, Dept. of Pediatrics, UTHSC)
Dr. Robert Davis (Director, UTHSC Center for Biomedical Informatics)
Roya Mostafavi (Director of Genetic Counseling, Le Bonheur Children’s
Hospital)

Healing in Rural Appalachia: Identifying Individual, Family, and Community Factors Linked to Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing Disparities

Diabetes mismanagement plagues our rural Appalachian communities, leading to high rates of Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) development. DFUs are painful, slow-healing wounds (3+ months) that require daily care tasks, frequent medical visits, and multiple behavioral modifications. The staggering cost of DFU care exceeds $50 billion annually. Unhealed DFU wounds lead to substantial health complications, including amputation, sepsis, foot deformities, and mortality. Innovative and interdisciplinary solutions to DFU healing are necessary to improve the health outcomes of our high-risk and vulnerable DFU patients in rural Appalachia.

Disparities in DFU healing in urban areas are linked to structural barriers (e.g., healthcare access, affordable home medical supplies, food insecurity). Psychosocial stressors (e.g., depression, anxiety, social isolation) can exacerbate structural barriers’ impact on health. To date, these factors have not been applied to understanding rural DFU disparities, which are substantial. For the present proposal, we will identify the critical factors linked to DFU disparities in rural Appalachia to inform the multi-level intervention, Healing Together, an interdisciplinary solution to reducing DFU healing disparities in rural Appalachia.

Team: UTK, UTHSC, External (UTMC)

Dr. Patricia Roberson (PI) – UTK Nursing
Liliana Burbano (Co-I) – UTMC
Dr. Kristie Young (Co-I) – UTMC
Dr. Lauren Grimsley (Co-I) – UTHSC
Dr. Devin Clegg (Co-I) – UTHSC
Dr. Mitch Goldman (Consultant) – UTHSC
Dr. Ryan Buckley (Consultant) – UTHSC

Addressing Heirs Property in Rural Tennessee and Beyond

Across rural America, families contend with a profound barrier to economic development: their land is held as ‘heirs’ properties.’ The USDA defines these lands as “family-owned land that is jointly owned by descendants of a deceased person whose estate did not clear probate. The descendants . . . do not have a clear or marketable title . . . since the estate issues remain unresolved.” There are approximately half a million acres of this land in rural Tennessee. Estimates of the market value of Tennessee heirs’ property acreage ranges from $500 million to more than $5 billion. Heirs property owners are vulnerable to land loss and are unable to fully utilize their land. Existing strategies fail to address the specific heirs’ property issues in our region. Successfully addressing these issues can close persistent wealth gaps among marginalized populations while pursuing equitable municipal and state economic development goals. 

Leveraging both existing connections and the classroom of the Appalachian Justice Research Center, this team of lawyers, social scientists, an artist, and a landscape architect will produce a case study of heirs’ property in Claiborne and Campbell Counties, and will co-design resources with property owners that will serve as guides for resolving heirs’ property cases in our region.

Team: UTK, UT Law, UTK-UTIA, IPS, External

Appalachian Justice Research Center
Eric Amarante, College of Law
Lucy Jewel, College of Law
Scottie McDaniel, School of Landscape Architecture
Gabe Schwartzman, Dept. of Geography and Sustainability
Lindsay Shade, Dept. of Sociology
Elaine Sheldon, School of Art
Tom Rison – UTIA Extension, Claiborne County
Steve Edwards – UTIA Extension, Campbell County
Community and other Potential UT Collaborators
Tonia Brookman, Woodland Community Land Trust
April Jarocki, Southern Connected Communities Project
UT Institute for Public Service
UT County Technical Assistance Service

Tempo-Spatial Analysis of Rural Gentrification in TN

Investigating gentrification in rural communities is crucial as it can have both positive and negative effects. Wealthy individuals can stimulate economic growth by investing in local businesses and infrastructure, improving living standards. However, gentrification can also lead to loss of community character, increased living costs, and displacement. This study plays a crucial role in investigating the phenomenon of gentrification in Tennessee, which has not been previously examined.

Team: UTC, UTK-UTIA, External

Dr. Varol (PI)- UTC
Mr. Mix – UTC (PI) is the GIS Director for UTC.
Dr. Sreedhar Upendram – UTK Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics
Dr. James Mingie – UTK Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics
Dr. Catma (EXT) is a Professor of Economics at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB).

TN Rural Disability Resources

The UT Rural Disability Resource Network is a network of people driven to create more awareness of and better access to resources that help families with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in rural Tennessee. Our mission is to connect, understand and innovate around disability services so that every child in Tennessee from rural communities is supported.

With the funds from this grant opportunity we will create and distributable information materials on resources, host workshops and events for children with disabilities and their families to help transition to a successful adulthood, leading to a more connected community of natural support for families.

Team: Rural Disability Resource Network: UTS, UTSA, UTHSC, UTM, UTC, UTK-UTIA, External

Claire Paul, UTS
John Lacey, UT System
Bruce Keisling, UTHSC
Jenness Roth, UTHSC
Amy Rutherford, UTC
Clinton Smith, UTM
Hannah Wright, UTIA
Non-University Affiliated
Lauren Pearcy, TN Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD)
Chrissy Hood, Governor-appointed to CDD
Internal Partnerships
Institute for Public Service
External Partnerships
Tennessee Disability Pathfinder
The Arc Tennessee Family Engagement
TN Dept. of Human Services, Vocational Rehab

Addressing Access to Employment and Resources for Individuals with Barriers in Rural Communities toward Workforce Pipeline Development

UT CIS will work with UT College of Law and UT SWORPS TN Child Support Employment and Parenting Program (TCSEPP) along with the American Job Centers of East TN, their staff and partner agencies, TDOC Day Reporting Center, and other community agencies in the rural counties of East TN to assist individuals obtain identification (birth certificates, driver’s licenses or state IDs) in order to improve their access to and ability to secure employment.  UT CIS will collaborate with the agencies above to address additional barriers hindering employment (i.e., expungement clinics, job fairs, referrals for supportive services, etc.). 

This collaborative will also explore ways to assist individuals with alternatives and options to pay down court fines and fees to obtain a driver’s license (i.e., completing community service to “pay off” fines, etc.). 

Team: IPS, UT Law, External

IPS, UT Law, External
UT Center for Industrial Services
Jennifer Eppley (PI). Collaborators: other UT CIS
Staff. External team: UT College of Law; UT SWORPS TCSEPP; TN Dept. of
Corrections Day Reporting Center; American Job Center partners of East TN,
specifically ETSU Center for Community Outreach

Strengthening Rural Communities in West Tennessee

Rural Tennessee communities are facing significant challenges due to a lack of effective governance. This crisis is hindering economic development and limiting opportunities for residents. To address this issue, we have developed a comprehensive initiative to enhance the capacity of local governments.

By leveraging the expertise of three UT campuses – Martin, Southern, and Chattanooga, and partnering with organizations like MTAS, our project will provide targeted training and support to local officials. We will focus on critical areas such as governance, grant writing, and economic development. Additionally, we will place students as interns in local governments to provide much-needed support and develop the next generation of rural governance leaders.

Through our collaborative approach, we aim to:

  • Empower local governments: Equip officials with the skills and resources they need to lead effectively.
  • Foster economic growth: Create a more favorable environment for businesses and investment.
  • Improve quality of life: Enhance opportunities and services for residents.
  • Develop future leaders: Train the next generation of public servants who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of rural communities.

By investing in the capacity of rural governments, we can create a more vibrant and resilient Tennessee for generations to come.

Team: UTM, UTS, UTC

Dr. Adnan Rasool – UT Martin 
Dr. Chris Baxter – UT Martin
Dr. Jim Greene – UTS 
Dr. Lorie Jones – UTS 
Dr. Chris Acuff – UTC 
Pat Ford – UTS
UT Municipal Technical Advisory Services (MTAS)
Northwest Tennessee Development District

Awarded Projects

Bridging the Gap: Tailored Distance Education for Rural Addiction Counseling in Tennessee

Our project addresses the critical need for accessible substance use treatment in rural Tennessee communities, contributing to the Grand Challenge of Overcoming Addictions. Despite 19.2% of Tennesseans aged 12 or older requiring substance misuse treatment, 71% receive no assistance (SAMHSA, 2022). A recent needs assessment (TDMHSAS, 2023) underscores the pressing demand for more addiction support in rural Tennessee communities, especially those facing a disproportionate loss of hospitals and a lack of specialized addiction services. These challenges result in higher rates of untreated addiction due to limited access to counselors, services and treatment. Our goal is to create a specialized online course on rural addictions tailored to the distinct needs of these underserved rural communities to train and prepare professionals working in these communities. Recognizing that existing addiction training often focuses on urban settings, this project will provide the necessary knowledge required to address the unique challenges faced by rural communities and how to create and access addiction services to combat these challenges. Through focus groups and interviews with rural mental health providers, we will build our online course and produce research products that are a critical public health need in Tennessee’s
rural communities.

Team: UTK, UTHSC, External

Jamian Coleman, Ph.D. (P. I.), UTK CEHHS, EPC;
Carrie Bailey, Ph.D. (Co-P.I.), UTK College of Nursing;
Melinda Gibbons, Ph.D., (Co-I.) UTK CEHHS, EPC
Lisa Beasley, DNP, (Co-I.) UT Health Science Center; College of Nursing
Confirmed External Partners:
Avalon Center (Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault)
Appalachian Industries in Scott Co. (FQHC)
East Tennessee Behavioral Health
Free Medical Clinic: Anderson, Roane, Morgan Counties
Knoxville Day Reporting Center
Village Behavioral Health
Tennessee Valley Recovery
Children’s Advocacy Center McMinnville

Unraveling the Interconnection: Substance Use and Health-Related Behaviors among Youth in Tennessee

The project’s use of multiple datasets and application of advanced statistical techniques are innovative and creative solutions to analyzing youth substance data that can inform targeted interventions at the local level.

Team: UTK, IPS, External

Dr. Liem Tran (PI), College of Arts and Sciences: An environmental geographer and GIS analyst, Dr. Tran oversees technical aspects with expertise in regional vulnerability assessment, spatial analysis, and AI.
Dr. Jennifer Tourville, Executive Director and nurse practitioner, SMART addresses the opioid crisis in Tennessee.
Trevor Henderson, Substance Use Response Consultant, brings extensive collaboration experience.

Recovery Ecosystem Asset Mapping

Expansion of the resource map would allow for resource gaps to be more easily identified to properly allocate additional funds and programs.

Team: IPS, UTK, UTS, UTM, External

Leading: UT IPS SMART – Channie Cretsinger (Program Associate) Jennifer Tourville (Executive Director), Student Intern (Dept. of Public Health)
Internal: UTK – Liem Tran (Geography Professor), Student Intern.
UT Southern – Karen Ferguson (Assoc. Professor of Nursing and Public Health Educator Program Coordinator), Student Intern.
UT Martin – Shannon Perry (Director of Student Conduct And Care), Student Intern.
External: ETSU, county and city governments, local opioid councils.

Preliminary Data and Analysis to Explore Opioid-Induced Epigenetic and Visuocognitive Changes Associated with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Tennessee faces a critical challenge with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), where infants born to opioid-exposed mothers suffer from severe withdrawal symptoms leading to numerous cognitive and nervous system alterations. This condition affects our state at rates three times the national average, posing significant medical complexities and demanding intensive treatment and monitoring. This project will combine expertise from the UT Department of Psychology, UTIA Genomics Core, and Oak Ridge National Labs in an attempt to understand NAS through a novel integration of cutting-edge epigenetics research and eye-tracking based visuo-cognitive assessments. Further, this project will utilize novel explainable-AI-based supercomputing approaches to analyze and integrate epigenomic and visuo-cognitive data, facilitating a deeper understanding of NAS and potentially unlocking new therapeutic strategies. This initiative promises transformative change in the management and treatment of NAS, directly aligning with the Grand Challenge program’s goals for innovation, impact, and sustainability.

Team: UTK, UTK-UTIA, ORNL, External

PI: Dr. Ross-Sheehy – UTK specializes in infant neurocognitive development and the development of eye-tracking based assessment techniques.
Co-PI: Dr. Jacobson– ORNL applies systems biology to explore neuropsychological conditions, focusing on substance use disorders.
Co-PI: Dr. Beever directs the UTIA Genomics Center, leveraging genetic and genomic tools to advance genome science.
Co-I: Dr. Harris is the Medical Director for Knoxville Neonatal Associates at ETCH with specialization in neonatology.

Evidence-Based Samaritan Toolbox

TN’s 929 certified recovery congregations[i] meet 6 criteria to reduce addiction and associated stigma. Only 1 of TN’s 929 certified recovery congregations provides harm reduction (HR) – Live Free Claiborne Evidence-based HR provides cost-effective, non-judgmental medical, social, and educational support to aid safe drug use, reduce blood borne pathogen and overdose risk, and is a transitional step to recovery. Live Free is now assisting Hamblen County’s NAACP to initiate a faith-based HR site in Morristown. To identify effective TN-tailored HR planning and implementation tactics, we will evaluate the impact of Live Free’s HR services and complete a case study of the nascent and established programs. These case studies will inform the development and delivery of the Samaritan Toolbox; a non-denominational guide to plan and implement faith-based HR. With over 10,000 churches[ii] and leading the nation in mega churches, TN’s opportunity for HR expansion through faith-based organizations is remarkable. HR expansion will reduce deaths, infections, hospitalizations, and other traumas related to addiction – having a far reaching social and economic impact. Idle hands will not eradicate addiction.

[i] TN Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (n.d.). Fast Facts: Certified Recovery Congregation Locations. https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/research/fast-facts/recovery-congregations.html
[ii] Faith Street (2024). Churches in TN. https://www.faithstreet.com/locations/state/tn

Team: UTK, UTK-UTIA, External

Laurie L Meschke, Public Health, UTK
Joel Clark, UT Extension, UTIA
External Partners
Kyle Prichard, Pastor, The Hill-Claiborne
Joseph Hoffman, Exec Dir, Live Free Claiborne
Shavone Lovell (Pres) and Lakeia Comer (Sec), National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP)
James Harper, Dir Faith-Based Initiative, TN Dept of Mental Health & Substance Abuse
Services
Rebecca Amantia, Dir of HR Initiatives, TN Dept of Health

Nourish Recovery: A Nutrition Education Program for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders

Research indicates that addressing SUD (substance use disorder) requires a multi-prong approach. Nutrition is often included in treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs), both in the public and private sectors. As illicit substances alter the body’s metabolism and increase the risk of malnutrition, attending to nutrition in drug recovery can be beneficial. Providing adequate amounts of nutrients throughout the recovery process, such as fatty acids, B vitamins, zinc, and antioxidants, increases brain functionality by decreasing some of the effects of depressed neurotransmitters. With barriers to appropriate SUD care and increasing rates of deaths, Extension is a promising avenue for delivering evidence-based programming tailored to local community needs. Extension agents are well-connected with community partners and stakeholders, and these partners are requesting nutrition programming specific to SUDs. Currently, there is no nutrition education program specific to individuals with SUDs in Tennessee or nationally.  The purpose of this grant proposal is to develop, implement, and evaluate a pilot nutrition education program for adults struggling with SUDs in Tennessee to be delivered by Extension agents in partnership with drug recovery centers.

Team: UTK, UTK-UTIA, External

Dr. Kristin Riggsbee –  UTIA Family and Consumer Sciences
Dr. Kathryn Conrad – UT Extension
Dr. Karen Franck – UTK Family and Consumer Science
The steering committee will include specialists and researchers from UTIA and UTK, including Dr. Jennifer Ward, Lauren Wells, Lauren Woods, Elizabeth Sanders, Dr. Soghra Jarvandi, Dr. Jennifer Tourville, and Dr. Christopher Sneed.
External partners will sit on the Steering Committee, including Jill Free-Hepperly, Karen Perishing, and Steve Wildsmith.

Enhancing Community Tools and Recovery Supports for Those at Risk of HIV Transmission and Substance Misuse Through the Recovery+ Program

The Recovery+ program targets the intersection of substance use and HIV risk, where individuals face heightened vulnerability and often lack comprehensive support. Addressing the concerns of this population demands a comprehensive continuum of care, encompassing access to harm reduction services, substance misuse treatment, HIV testing and prevention measures, and ongoing recovery supports. As a community expansion of UTC’s Mocs Recovery program, we aim to bridge the gap in resources and provide referrals and linkage to already existing services, as well as establish specific recovery supports for individuals at risk of HIV transmission and substance use disorders. The Recovery+ program, which is currently in the conceptual phase of development, offers an innovative approach by addressing the intricate link between addiction and HIV risk simultaneously. This will be the first program of its kind in Eastern Tennessee that offers co-occurring treatment and ongoing recovery support for this unique population. Through this initiative, we aim to address this gap by reducing risk of HIV transmission among this population and fostering long-term health and wellbeing while reducing stigma and promoting inclusivity within our community.

Team: UTC, UTK, External

Dr. Tyler Oberheim – UTC (Counselor Education)
Megan McKnight – UTC (Center for Wellbeing; Mocs Recovery)
Jami Hargrove– UTC (Center for Wellbeing; Mocs Recovery) Dr. Gregory– UTK (RAAD lab)

Type 2 – Advancing to a pitch competition

Projects with budgets up to $500,000.

Campus identifiers for project teams:
UTC – UT Chattanooga
UTK – UT Knoxville
UTHSC – UT Health Science Center
UTM – UT Martin
UTS – UT Southern
UTK-UTIA – UT Institute of Agriculture
UTK-UTSI – UT Space Institute
IPS – Institute for Public Service
External – External collaborators and partners

Advancing Projects

Tennessee Research Collaborative for Supporting Educators and Students: Equipping Our Teachers with Tools to Support Students’ Behavioral Successes

The proposed Tennessee Research Collaborative for Supporting Educators and Students is a strategic partnership among UT Knoxville, UT Chattanooga, Knox County Schools, and Bledsoe County Schools, aimed at addressing the challenge of retaining effective teachers amidst growing concerns about student behavior. 

The Collaborative will enable UT to make direct investments in our partners’ efforts to support and retain new teachers. With our partners, we will: (a) develop district leadership teams; (b) gather targeted information from educators in each district related to supports needed; (c) combine our expertise to co-create and evaluate innovative solutions for supporting teachers to better address student behavior; and (d) share what we learn with district stakeholders and develop district plans for sustaining the work of the Collaborative after funding has ended. 

The Collaborative will leverage practitioner and researcher expertise to address a critical challenge for our district partners. Knowledge generated will also provide meaningful contributions to state and national efforts to support and retain teachers who can effectively address the complex and changing needs of today’s students. Together we can transform how we support and retain Tennessee teachers.

Team: UTK, UTC, External

UT Knoxville, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences; Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education
Tara Moore, Associate Professor, Special Education, UTK
Katie Austin, Clinical Assistant Professor, Special Education, UTK
UT Chattanooga, College of Health, Education, and Professional Studies; School of Education
Jason Gordon, Assistant Professor, Exceptional Learning Programs, UTC
Jennifer Lynberg, Assistant Professor, Exceptional Learning Programs, UTC
Knox County Schools
Bledsoe County Schools

The Grow Your Own Collaboratory

The Grow Your Own Collaboratory creates a sustainable infrastructure to improve the attractiveness of the teaching profession in Tennessee. In a 50-state scan, Tennessee ranks in the bottom quintile on attracting and retaining teachers. During the two years of the project, the team will design, implement and refine a professional development program for mentor teachers. Research shows that well-prepared mentor teachers are essential to retaining novice teachers. By designing and implementing their own mentor professional development program (with significant resources), we hypothesize that this project will positively impact the satisfaction of current mentor teachers while simultaneously improving the retention of the novice teachers who will experience well-prepared mentors. Faculty involved in this project will conduct experimental research on the impact of a co-created summer mentor training retreat. The control group of mentors will receive the summer retreat in year two of the grant. We intend to publish findings on any quantitative and qualitative differences between mentors who are trained in a co-created summer retreat and mentors who are trained using existing training methods. The TN GYO Center will sustain the maintenance and delivery of the resulting mentor teacher PD program after the grant project ends.

Team: UTSA, UTS, UTM, External
(Potentially UTK, UTC)

The Steering Team includes
a. A member of the TN GYO Center’s team will be accountable for ensuring that all elements of this proposal are addressed.
b. A faculty leader from the University of Tennessee Southern and University of Tennessee Martin with optional faculty representatives from UTK and UTC.
c. A GYO program leader from a local educational agency (LEA)
d. A school superintendent or their designee
The Project Leadership Team
a. representatives from urban and rural mentor teachers,
b. urban and rural GYO project leaders (school district personnel),
c. a school superintendent, building principal or their designee,
d. an educator preparation provider (EPP) leader or their designee,
e. and a member of the TN GYO Center. Designees can be graduate students.
External Partners
a. SCORE
b. Tennessee Educational Research Association- data collection and analysis
c. The Boyd Center- data collection
d. ASU-NEXT or Mira Education as retreat experience designers

Equipping Educators for Excellence (E3) program

The Equipping Educators for Excellence (E3) program supports the TN Grow Your Own (GYO) initiative with a K-12 mentorship program for rural teachers to develop knowledge and skills in lab/data science (LDS) education, provides stipends to fund curriculum development, and small grants for materials to deploy the lesson plans.

The E3 collaborative seeks to 1) increase STEM resources for teachers and students in K-12, 2) provide mentorship support to rural teachers, 3) increase exposure to LDS careers. E3 provides a unique mentoring program pairing UTHSC LDS faculty with rural STEM teachers in West TN to develop new modules about LDS. These modules educate K-12 students about real-world health problems and providing earlier exposure to other health careers. Our program will assist educators in seeking grant funding for sustaining the programs at the schools.  Our efforts will also increase health literacy in rural communities.

Team: UTHSC, UTM, External

Rebecca Reynolds, Professor and Program Director of the MHIIM program, UTHSC
Keisha Burnett (MCP), Associate Professor and Program Director of the MCP program, UTHSC
Marcia Sharp, Associate Professor MHIIM, UTHSC
Sim Taylor, Education Specialist, UT Martin
Jacen Moore, Associate Professor and Program Director MLS, UTHSC
Carolyn Kaldon, Professor, Center for Research in Educational Policy (CREP) University of Memphis
Mary Randolph-Frye, Center for Research in Educational Policy (CREP) University of Memphis
Lauderdale and McNairy County teachers

Advancing Projects

The RAIL (Rural Assessment and Intervention Library) System

Within rural communities, school psychologists are constantly fighting barriers that their urban and suburban counterparts often do not have to contend with, which directly impacts the millions of students who attend school in these communities. Two of the main barriers they face are a lack of resources and funding. This can inhibit school psychologists from providing thorough evaluations, which can potentially impact being able to accurately determine eligibility for special education. This is crucial, as students with disabilities are more likely to attend higher education if they receive the services they need in high school.

Our grant looks to address the above-mentioned barriers for our rural communities in Tennessee with the creation of the RAIL (Rural Assessment and Intervention Library) System. The RAIL System would provide rural school districts with the following: ability to check out assessments and/or interventions that they can’t afford or justify purchasing; ability to try new assessments/interventions to decide if they are worth purchasing; access to protocols for rating scales in English and Spanish;  academic and social/emotional interventions to use for free; current publications they can check out and review; and access to a team of school psychologists for consultation.

Team: UTK, UTC, External

Primary Investigator: Dr. Amanda Hardin, UTC, School Psychology Department
Co-Investigator: Dr. Merilee McCurdy, UTK, Educational Psychology and Counseling
Department
Co-Investigator: Dr. Patrick Morin, UTC, School Psychology Department
Co-Investigator: Dr. Heather Nudd, UTC, School Psychology Department
Content Specialist: Dr. Alexandra Frank, UTC, Counselor Education Department
External Partner: Dr. April Ebbinger, TDOE
External Partners: All Rural School Districts participating in Project RAISE
External Consultant: Dr. Daniel Drevon – Central Michigan University
External Evaluator: Dr. Tyler Oberheim, UTC, Counselor Education Department

Creating People -Centric Workplaces in Rural Communities

The UT Center for Industrial Services (CIS) and UTK Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) will help small manufacturers in rural communities create people-centric workplaces that increase employee well-being, foster innovation, and achieve company performance goals.  CIS and ISE will base assistance on two tools: the Sawhney Model for People-Centric Operational Excellence  (SM) and Optimized People Development System (OPDS).  Both tools apply a systematic approach to help companies establish workplaces that attract, develop, and retain the people needed to become high performing organizations. They help companies effectively balance people’s needs with business needs to ensure sustainable success for both.   Grant Challenge funding will enable CIS and ISE to assist 7-10 manufacturers in rural distressed and at-risk counties; provide students with practical experience in developing people-centric workplaces; and evaluate, improve and expand SM and OPDS services.  CIS will utilize its statewide network to ensure that students from UT campuses across the state will have the opportunity to participate in the project.

Team: IPS, UTK

IPS – UT Center for Industrial Services (CIS)
Paul Jennings – IPS
Dwaine Raper – IPS
UTK – Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Carla Arbogast – UTK
Enrique Macias de Anda – UTK

On the Road to Better Rural Health: Outreach, Education, and Training to Strengthen Health and Health Care

Tennessee ranks 44th in the nation for health outcomes, with rural residents experiencing grave disparities versus their urban counterparts. Health care workforce shortages also plague rural areas, in part due to isolation and limited professional development opportunities. There is a need not only to improve the health of rural residents, but also to expand the capability of the health care workforce. This proposal will simultaneously address both problems by going on the road with 3 One UT-branded rural health units—launching from UTHSC, UT-Martin, and UT-Southern—to provide outreach, education, and training to a) the community and b) the health care workforce. Our nursing-led initiative creates a strategic overlap to spread and scale beyond current projects and workforce development activities to reach a broader population. The team will engage with UT Extension Offices, community members, and external stakeholders to develop educational opportunities to address the needs of these counties, capitalizing on existing programs and leveraging the synergistic expertise of our nursing faculty and colleagues from other disciplines. By uniting strengths across the UT system, we will create a lasting impact on rural health outcomes and the rural health care workforce.

Team: UTHSC, UTS, UTM

Dr. Ansley Stanfill – UTHSC
Dr. Alisa Haushalter – UTHSC
Dr. Mary Radford – UT Martin
Dr. Michelle Decker – UT Martin
Dr. Randy McElhaney Tuten – UT Southern
External:
UT Extension offices, Community Health Councils, Clinical Partners

Advancing Projects

Pain sensitivity, pain affect, pain catastrophizing, and chronic stress as predictors of quantity of substance use in people who use methamphetamine and opioids

Methamphetamine is widely used in TN, often combined with opioids, and is a factor in many drug overdose deaths. In TN in 2022, there were 3,826 overdose deaths, with opioids present in 3,073. Stimulants like methamphetamine were present in 2,103 deaths. Several factors predict relapse to substance use, and likely predict the intensity (quantity and frequency) of substance use. Among these factors are pain, psychological distress about pain (pain catastrophizing), and stress, which may influence drug use via increases in craving or other mechanisms. The impact of these factors on quantity of drug use in methamphetamine and opioid users has not been studied. This project will enroll people who are actively using methamphetamine and opioids. We will assess participants at regular intervals to examine the association of intensity of drug use with experimental pain psychophysical measures (pain sensitivity and pain unpleasantness), pain catastrophizing (as measured by standard scales), and chronic stress. We will also examine the association of current drug craving and current pain with intensity of drug use. We predict that pain sensitivity and pain unpleasantness, pain catastrophizing, chronic stress, current pain, and craving will be positively associated with intensity of drug use and may interact to mediate use.

Team: UTHSC, UTC, External

Ronald L. Cowan, MD, PhD, Harrison Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry; Professor, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology; Co-Director, Center for Addiction Science, College of Medicine, UTHSC, Memphis campus
Karen Derefinko, PhD, Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine, UTHSC, Memphis campus
Fridtjof Thomas, PhD, Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, UTHSC, Memphis Campus
UTC Faculty
Tyler S. Oberheim, PhD, LPC-MHSP(TN), LMHC(FL), NCC, Assistant Professor; Clinical Coordinator, Counselor Education, UTC
Ohio State University Faculty
Todd B. Monroe, PhD, RN-BC, FNAP, FGSA, FAAN, Distinguished Professor of Aging Research, Research Professor, College of Nursing, The Ohio State University
External/Community Partners
Shawn Hamm, MD, MBA. Program Director, Baptist Memorial Education Addiction Fellowship; Medical Director, Connections Wellness Group

Biomarkers predictive of vulnerability to progress from early opioid use to misuse and addiction

The opioid epidemic, particularly in Tennessee, is a critical public health challenge caused by high rates of misuse and fatal overdoses. The need for early detection of individuals at risk of transitioning from prescription opioid use to misuse is urgent in order to implement preventive measures. Our innovative project will identify molecular biomarkers that signal the transition from controlled opioid consumption to potential misuse and addiction. These proteomic and metabolic biomarkers, induced by opioid use, are dynamic and precise indicators of the risk to progress to opioid use disorder (OUD). This approach is transformative: it mirrors methodologies used in other chronic conditions like diabetes, providing a clear pathway from early detection of risk to preventive treatment. We have successfully developed an animal model that mimics human opioid consumption patterns based on drug intake behaviors. We also have established a robust proteomics pipeline for generating and analyzing data from brain and blood. The project will proceed with tightly controlled animal studies that enable biomarker identification followed by validation in human cross-sectional case-control studies. This project will significantly impact public health through the development of a powerful diagnostic tool for early OUD, enabling timely interventions that prevent the escalation of opioid misuse.

Team: UTHSC, IPS

Dr. Chen, Prof., Dept. of Pharmacology, Addiction Science and Toxicology, UTHSC, has expertise in the genetics of substance abuse. He and Dr. Sharp developed the operant oxycodone oral SA model.
Dr. Sharp, Distinguished Prof., Dept. of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics (GGI), UTHSC; specializes in neurobiology of nicotine and opioid misuse. His publications, many with Dr. Chen, have received approximately 10,000 citations worldwide.
Dr. Wang, Associate Prof. of GGI, UTHSC, has contributed fundamental innovations to proteomics: JUMP/peptide ID and SMAP/proteogenomics.
Jennifer Tourville, Exec. director, UT Inst. for Public Service SMART Initiative, leads a team that works with addiction programs. She will monitor patient recruitment and timely collection of quality samples.
McNabb Center: has 15 distinct locations in 30 counties of East Tennessee, providing a full spectrum of substance use care. The experienced research unit of McNabb will identify and document volunteers.

Addiction Recovery Support

Workforce development supports healing from addiction by enhancing access to social support, employment, and medication for OUD(MOUD) To enhance social support and employment, we will increase certified Peer Recovery Support (PRS) professionals, we will develop 2 hybrid trainings delivered digitally on demand and via a synchronous Zoom session. UT Extension has promoted Skill Up employment services for low-income recipients for 7 years. Our assessment of Extension’s applicants will determine how Skill Up can best support people in all stages of recovery. MOUD has been most successful in reducing later risk of overdose and hospitalization related to opioid use. To reduce stigma, increase MOUD and Naloxone distribution, and improve communication with people in recovery, we will facilitate a statewide expansion of a pharmacy mentoring program developed by UT affiliates. This program will be adapted for sustainability and promoted by the TN Pharmacy Association. By increasing peer recovery support, employment, and access to MOUD through workforce development, our team intends to reduce active addiction and its devastating soliloquy of consequences.

Team: UTK, UTHSC, UTK-UTIA, External

Laurie L. Meschke, PhD, Professor of Public Health, UTK
Enilda Romero-Hall, PhD, Associate Professor of Learning, Design, and Technology program in Dept of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education, UTK
Iryna Loboda & Rosie Sasso, UTK Office of Information Technology
Tyler Melton, PharmD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Pharmacy, UTHSC
Christopher Sneed, PhD and Clint Cummings, UTIA
Lisa Ragan, Director & Michelle Webster, Peer Recovery Coordinator, Office of Consumer Affairs and Peer Recovery Services, TN Dept of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Mary Linden Salter, Exec Dir, TN Association of Alcohol, Drugs, and other Addiction Services
Krystal Fortney, Dir of Youth & Young Adult Initiatives & Samantha Fillers, Coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Initiatives TN Dept of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Anthony Pudlo, Chief Exec Officer, TN Pharmacists Association