Health Policy
Current Grants
CERT for Conducting Research in Medical Devices
Hassan Ghomrawi, Ph.D. (In collaboration with Alvin I. Mushlin, M.D., Sc.M. [PI])
Agency of Health Research and Quality (AHRQ)
04/01/06 – 03/31/11
The Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) is a research program administered by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), in consultation with the Food and Drug Administration, agencies within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The mission of the CERTs is to conduct research and provide education that will advance the optimal use of drugs, medical devices, and biological products.
Cost-effectiveness of Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Dependence
Bruce Schackman, Ph.D., PI
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
10/01/07 – 03/31/10
The objective of this project is to develop and use a cost-effectiveness computer simulation model of opioid dependence treatment in the U.S. to evaluate buprenorphine maintenance treatment compared to methadone maintenance treatment and no treatment options, identify how costs and benefits are allocated among government or health insurance payers and patients, and determine the impact of regulatory barriers on cost-effectiveness results.
Cost of an Evidence-Based Depression Care Management Intervention in Home Health and Payment Implications
Yuhua Bao, Ph.D., PI
National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Mental Health
6/15/2009 – 4/30/2011
Assesses the incremental cost to home health agencies of delivering an evidence-based depression quality improvement intervention to clinically depressed home health patients and related payment implications.
Economic Analysis of Rapid HIV and HCV Testing in Drug Abuse Treatment Programs
Bruce Schackman, Ph.D., PI
National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse
9/1/2009 – 8/31/2012
This study evaluates the cost and cost-effectiveness of HIV rapid testing and counseling in drug treatment programs alone and in combination with rapid HCV testing, using data from NIDA CTN Protocol 0032.
Evaluating the Link between HIV Prevention and Treatment
Bruce Schackman, Ph.D. (In collaboration with A. David Paltiel, Ph.D. [PI], Yale University)
National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Mental Health
09/30/08 – 08/31/11
This project uses a mathematical simulation model to assemble and analyze the best available clinical and cost data in order to inform current policy debates, and to promote an evidence-based approach to HIV counseling, testing, and referral in the United States. Dr. Schackman will be responsible for overseeing policy analyses forecasting the budgetary impact of CDC HIV testing recommendations on public programs and will assist in conducting other HIV testing analyses.
Health Policies to Improve Antidepressant Adherence Among Older Patients
Yuhua Bao, Ph.D. (PI)
Pfizer Scholars Grant in Health Policy
07/01/08 – 06/30/10
This project will assess the comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of alternative pharmacy benefit policies to improve adherence to antidepressant medication.
HIV Testing and Counseling in STD Clinics: an Adaptation of CTN 0032
Bruce Schackman, Ph.D. (In collaboration with Lisa Metsch, Ph.D. [PI], University of Miami and Grant Colfax, M.D. [PI], San Francisco Department of Public Health)
National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse
9/30/09 – 8/31/11
This Stimulus Grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will determine whether receiving a rapid HIV test and counseling offers healthier outcomes than rapid testing alone. A randomized multi-center controlled trial will enroll 5,000 patients at high risk for HIV infection in nine sexually transmitted disease clinics in the United States. It will evaluate the effect of routine counseling at screening on two primary outcomes: the incidence of sexually transmitted infections and acceptance of HIV testing. Researchers will also measure reduction of risky sexual behaviors and substance use during sex after a six month period, and cost-effectiveness of counseling and testing. Dr. Schackman is the PI of the cost-effectiveness analysis subcontract of the grant.
NIDA press release
Long-term Survivorship in Older Women with Early Stage Breast Cancer (BOW II)
Heather Taffet Gold, Ph.D. (In collaboration with Rebecca A Silliman, M.D., Ph.D. [PI], Boston University)
National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute
07/01/08 – 12/31/11
In this renewal proposal (BOW II) the researchers will collect additional information about the cohort of 1859 elderly, early breast cancer survivors (funded through “Breast Cancer Treatment Effectiveness in Older Women (BOW I)” from the National Cancer Institute) through 15 years after diagnosis. They will add a matched comparison cohort of women without breast cancer from the same source population, 6 sites of the HMO Cancer Research Network. This uniquely detailed dataset will enable them to focus on three domains of long-term breast cancer survivorship research: follow-up care including surveillance mammography, health care costs, and late treatment effects.
New Breast Cancer Radiotherapy Technology – Impact on Disparities in Access
Heather Taffet Gold, Ph.D., PI
American Cancer Society
1/1/2010 – 12/31/2012
The purpose of project is to study the diffusion of the use of accelerated partial breast radiotherapy technology across the United States in the Medicare population using statistical analyses applied to high-quality data sources. The researchers will also conduct and analyze in-depth interviews with surgeons, radiation oncologists, and patients to understand how and why these new treatment modalities are being used. Combining the approaches of population-based analyses and in-depth interviews is unique in health services research and should give both the “big picture” and insights into the nuanced medical decision-making process. Findings from this study will inform clinical policy options prior to publication of randomized trial results, including appropriate scope of adoption and reimbursement.
Pharmacogenomics of HIV Therapy
Bruce Schackman, Ph.D. (In collaboration with David W. Haas, M.D. [PI], Vanderbilt University)
National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
07/08/2008 – 06/30/2013
The purpose of this study is to determine the utility of human pharmacogenomic testing for clinical HIV care through analyses of data and DNA from approximately 4500 participants from prospective, randomized clinical trials of the NIH-sponsored AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG). Predictive models for response to antiretroviral therapies will be developed based on knowledge of human genetic variants. The primary responsibility of Dr. Schackman at Cornell will be to lead efforts in mathematical modeling of pharmacogenomics data in order to quantify the cost-effectiveness of human genetic testing to inform medication prescribing. This work may ultimately result in better individualized therapy (personalized medicine), and improved antiretroviral therapy treatment guidelines for persons living in resource-poor countries.
Recent Grants
Center for the Evaluation and Support of Integrated Buprenorphine Treatment & HIV Care
Bruce Schackman, Ph.D. (Subcontract to New York Academy of Medicine, Ruth Finkelstein, Sc.D. [PI])
Health Resources & Services Administration
09/01/04 – 08/31/09
The purpose of this project was to develop and evaluate programs that integrate HIV primary care and buprenorphine treatment for opioid dependence.
Disparities in Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer and DCIS
Heather Taffet Gold, Ph.D. (PI)
American Cancer Society
01/01/04 – 06/30/09
This was an econometric and survey-based evaluation of variations and disparities in radiotherapy referral, treatment timing, and health and economic outcomes related to radiotherapy for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and early breast cancer.
Framework Program for Global Health
Madelon L. Finkel, Ph.D., Mentor (In collaboration with the Department of Medicine. P.I.: Warren Johnson, M.D.)
NIH Fogarty
10/1/06 – 9/30/09
The aim of this multidisciplinary project, developed by faculty at the five Cornell University colleges, is to create a global health curriculum that combines new courses and seminars with existing courses and domestic and international research experiences and internships to provide a career pathway for the next generation of global health scientists, and to encourage researchers in global health to engage in greater collaboration and interactions in research.
HCV Treatment Cost-Effectiveness in 3 IDU Populations
Bruce Schackman, Ph.D. (PI)
NIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse
04/01/04 – 03/31/09
The purpose of this research was to assess the cost-effectiveness of treatment for chronic hepatitis C (HCV) in HCV-infected intravenous drug users (IDUs) in methadone maintenance treatment and other substance abuse treatment settings; IDUs coinfected with HIV and HCV who have early stage liver disease; and HCV-infected pregnant women with a history of IDU.
HIV Rapid Testing and Counseling in Drug Abuse Treatment Programs
Bruce Schackman, Ph.D. (Supplement grant, in collaboration with Jose Szapocznik, Ph.D. [PI], University of Miami)
National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
09/01/08 – 08/31/09
This grant provided funding to initiate an ancillary study to NIDA CTN Protocol 0032 . With support from the supplement, Dr. Schackman collaborated with the protocol team in collecting economic data during the trial and conducting preliminary economic analyses. The Weill Cornell Medical College consortium also included two consultants at Yale University and a consortium arrangement between WCMC and the Massachusetts General Hospital.
