Professor receives federal grant, CCC celebrates 50 years, ASC announces new season
A faculty member at UAB has received a large federal grant to study the mental health of caregivers who look after people with dementia.
The O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center on campus is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
And the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center has announced the artists who will appear in its upcoming season.
Caring for caregivers
Frank Puga, an assistant professor in the UAB School of Nursing, has been awarded a five-year, $3.14 million grant from the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, to study the mental health experiences of Hispanic and Latinx caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
“This study is especially needed as this group of dementia caregivers is underserved and underrepresented in aging research,” Puga told UAB News in June.
To track caregiver experiences and day-to-day mental health, study participants will complete a series of daily surveys.
The study will focus on often overlooked variables, including experiences of racism and discrimination.
‘A special moment’
The O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center is marking its 50th anniversary this summer.
The center is the only comprehensive cancer center — as designated by the National Cancer Institute — in Alabama and a four-state region, according to UAB News.
“Fifty years of scientific discovery and clinical excellence have brought us to this special moment,” said Dr. Barry Sleckman, the facility’s director.
The UAB Cancer Program was organized in 1970 and received its first $4.3 million in funding from the NCI in 1972.
The center’s faculty includes about 400 clinicians, scientists and clinician-scientists.
In 2021, the center served 9,700 new cancer patients and enrolled 439 participants in clinical trials.
The center recently received a five-year Cancer Center Core Support Grant of more than $27 million to support its research through 2026.
New season
The Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center has announced the schedule for its 2022-23 season.
The season kicks off Sept. 16 with the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band. Shepherd is an acclaimed rock and blues singer, guitarist and songwriter.
The season, which concludes in April, includes about 15 events, including dance, theater and pop and classical music.
To see a complete schedule or to buy tickets, call 205-975-2787 or go to alysstephens.org.