Research and Outreach

VTIPG-VBI Health and Infectious Disease Research in Africa: Phase I

VTIPG and the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) are jointly exploring the possibility of initiating a partnership-based project focused on health and infectious disease research in sub Saharan Africa. The goal is to build an effective and sustainable international research and outreach partnership between stakeholder organizations that share a commitment to mitigating the devastating effects of infectious disease in Africa.  The partnership brings together unique capacities of each participating organization to collaborate in the production of impact oriented trans-disciplinary research. Research efforts will be joined with complementary outreach and education activities designed to maximize the relevance and benefits of the research for those populations most in need.

Currently, the partnership is in the exploratory/project design phase spanning through January 2009. The team will embark on visits to Mali and Mozambique October 2008.

Assistance to Virginia's Lead-Safe Program

In 2008, VTIPG will continue its work with the Virginia Department of Health’s Lead-Safe Virginia Program.  The goal of the Lead-Safe Virginia Program is to eliminate childhood lead poisoning.  This work is part of a national goal to eliminate childhood lead poisoning by 2010.  Under the principal investigation of Dr. Renee Loeffler, VTIPG provides a variety of program evaluation and consultation services to VDH in response to specific needs identified by the Lead-Safe Virginia Program.

A Proposal to Assess Human Resource Efficacy and Per Diem Rate Sensitivity for the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services

Led by Mary Beth Dunkenberger, VTIPG is  assessing the current environment of human resource capacities and per diem rates of state facilities to guide the efficient and effective distribution of resources among the 15 state mental health facilities. Informed by the current context and national best practices, the Department wishes to evaluate staffing levels, patient acuity and external workforce dynamics and other factors impacting per diem rates at state facilities, to determine a range of staffing ratios and other cost assumptions for serving the Department’s constituency populations.  While administrative data is available on state facilities, the accuracy of this information will be verified, with each facility’s context and needs taken into account.  To assist DMHMRSAS as it addresses policy implementation and management decisions, VTIPG’s role is to identify national best practices and perform comparative research to identify key quality indicators used by other states that relate to efficient and effective staffing levels; to conduct analysis and verification of existing administrative data based on clinical level of care and the population being served; and identify factors that affect per diem rate sensitivity.  Finally, VTIPG will develop recommendations for next steps to model and establish efficient and effective staffing levels for the Department’s facilities.

New River Valley Regional Water Plan

VTIPG partnered with the New River Valley Planning District Commission was awarded a grant that reflects a collaborative project between the PDC and VTIPG to begin the preliminary feasibility analysis for development of a regional water plan in the New River Valley. The $102,000 initial grant should lead to subsequent monies being provided by other granting institutions and local governments. This grant has been extended for an additional year for $140,000 to further develop the governance structure and administrative arrangements to create the regional water authority. VTIPG is currently preparing a grant proposal that will fund this project for an additional year and fund the preparation of a Preliminary Engineering Report for construction of the project. Faculty and students from Virginia Tech's Center for Geospatial Information Technology have been and will continue to be engaged in this important project.

Local DSS Agency Medicaid Provider Feasibility Study

VTIPG was recently notified that a $375,000 Medicaid feasibility study will be funded by VDSS beginning in January 2005. This study will evaluate the potential for licensing local DSS agencies as Medicaid providers to increase access to Medicaid benefits and to reduce local costs of providing health care to disadvantaged citizens.

Southwest Virginia Regional Wastewater Study

VTIPG has been selected by Lamar Dunn & Associates, Inc. to participate in a regional wastewater study within the LENOWISCO, Mount Rogers and Cumberland Gap Planning District Commissions. This study will evaluate the potential for regionalization and expansion of existing wastewater collection and treatment systems and the creation of a regional authority to manage these systems. Significant cost savings are expected and much improved surface and ground water quality as a result of these findings. Total initial project cost is $192,000.