Will mindfulness help reduce sickle cell disease symptoms?
Wi awarded $1 million from the National Institute of Nursing Research
UIC College of Nursing postdoctoral research associate Dahee Wi, PhD, RN, has been awarded $1 million from the National Institute of Nursing Research through the highly competitive NIH Pathway to Independence Award.
Wi’s project, “Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Pain and Sleep in Adolescents and Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease,” will develop and test a digital mindfulness-based intervention designed to reduce pain and improve sleep in young people with sickle cell disease. The intervention will be delivered via an app that combines short, educational modules with guided practices.
“Through this project, I hope to help adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease manage pain and sleep more effectively, ultimately improving their quality of life,” Wi says.
Wi’s primary mentor is Ardith Doorenbos, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Harriet H. Werley Endowed Chair for Nursing Research.
The development and evaluation of the intervention will be supported by a multidisciplinary team, representing expertise in symptom science, mindfulness-based interventions, statistics, and both pediatric and adult hematology-oncology.
The NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award supports promising postdoctoral researchers in transitioning to independent faculty roles, fostering the next generation of nurse scientists.