2025 Community Engagement Pilot Grants
The UVA Brain Institute offers a seed funding program to provide pilot funding to support the critical role that community partners play in promoting brain health awareness and research.
Awardees
The WellAware Brain Health Project
Betsy Payton, RN, BSN - WellAware Program, UVA Population Health, Teresa Babineau, MD - UVA Population Health
The WellAware Community Health Worker (CHW) program of the UVa Population Health department, in collaboration with UVa Neurology, aims to improve brain health education and early detection of dementia and stroke by equipping Community Health Workers with specialized training and interactive patient education materials. Through community events, referrals to UVa Neurology, and educational outreach, the initiative will increase awareness of cognitive decline and stroke risk while promoting preventive care. This project will enhance patient health literacy, encourage early intervention, and strengthen connections between at-risk individuals and neurology specialists.
Infant Relational Health Consortium: Advancing Early Intervention for Prenatal Substance Exposure and Relational Trauma
Stephanie McNerney, BSN, MSN, CPNP, PHNL - UVA Children's Hospital, Rebecca Schmidt, MPH - UVA School of Data Science, Emily Boshkoff, PsyD
The Infant Relational Health Consortium (IRHC) seeks to improve outcomes for infants and families impacted by prenatal substance exposure (PSE) and relational trauma through interdisciplinary collaboration, workforce development, and evidence-based interventions. Rooted in a strength-based approach, the IRHC will address critical gaps in early identification, attachment-focused care, and community support systems. This initiative aligns with state and national priorities, leveraging partnerships to promote relational health, reduce intergenerational trauma, and enhance developmental outcomes for vulnerable populations.
This page will be updated as additional pilot grants are awarded. Previous awardees can be found here.