Two research teams at the University of Utah College of Nursing have secured a total of $1,543,560 in competitive grants to address critical health disparities affecting vulnerable populations both internationally and domestically. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Fogarty International Center awarded a $968,360 K01 Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award to Schola Matovu, PhD, RN, the first grant of its kind at the University of Utah, while the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) awarded a $575,200 grant to Julie Valentine, PhD, RN, SANE-A, FAAN. These prestigious awards underscore the college’s ongoing commitment to advancing health equity through innovative, community-focused research at local and global levels.
Matovu’s research focuses on addressing the challenges faced by grandmothers, known as Bajjajja, in Uganda, who often care for children in the absence of child welfare systems and similar resources. Her project, titled “Development and Testing of BAJJAJJA: An Intervention to Promote Economic Empowerment and Health of Grandmothers who Provide Primary Care for Grandchildren in Uganda,” will refine, adapt, and test BAJJAJJA (Building A Joint Action for JaJJAs), a two-pronged intervention that provides both training in income-generating activities and health coaching to these caregivers.
“For these grandmother-caregivers, already vulnerable to age-related, chronic, and socioeconomic stressors, it is critical that they receive resources that promote health, well-being, and quality of life—not only for their own care, but also for the children they’ve been entrusted to support,” said Matovu. Primary mentors to Matovu include Lee Ellington and Noeline Nakasujja (Makerere University), with Xiaoming Sheng providing statistical support.
Valentine, who holds the Ida May "Dotty" Barnes, R.N. and D. Keith Barnes, M.D. Presidential Endowed Chair at the College of Nursing, is a trailblazer in forensic nursing and trauma-informed care. Her study, titled “What about us? Formative evaluation of forensic nursing program delivery of intimate partner violence medical forensic examinations,” is the first step in the development of a comprehensive guide for intimate partner violence medical forensic examination programs, focusing on improving access for all IPV survivors including marginalized populations: minority women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness.
“This study will provide invaluable insights for forensic nurses, policymakers, and stakeholders,” said Valentine. “By identifying and removing barriers to care, we can ensure that survivors of intimate partner violence receive much-needed medical forensic care and support.” The research team also includes Bob Wong as co-investigator, Heather Melton, Keiko Crawley, and Nancy Downing (North Texas University Health Science Center).
Dean of the College of Nursing, Marla De Jong, PhD, RN, CCNS, FAAN, praised the research teams for their work, saying, “Researchers like Schola Matovu, Julie Valentine, and their teams exemplify what it means to advocate for equitable care for all. As the health care landscape evolves, our researchers are employing innovative approaches to tackle social issues that impact health and well-being.”