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By Dan Nonte, University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-4314
Posted 8-18-09
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Dr. William Dudley, associate dean for research in UNCG’s School of Health and Human Performance, has been appointed a member of the National Institutes of Health’s Psychosocial Risk and Disease Prevention study section.
The study section reviews applications to develop and/or test behavioral interventions to prevent or reduce risk for chronic diseases or conditions in which behavior plays a major role. Its roughly three dozen members meet three times a year in Washington and review 80-100 grant requests during each four-month cycle. Dudley, who also is a faculty member in UNCG’s Department of Public Health Education, joined the study section as a temporary member a year ago and was recently named a permanent member.
The position requires a substantial time commitment, Dudley says, but provides an opportunity to gain insight into the federal grantmaking process and to elevate the profile of UNCG as a research institution. That insight will allow him to assist UNCG researchers in preparing more persuasive grant proposals.
“The major funder for health research is the federal government, but the competition for money at the federal level is fierce,” Dudley said. “I have worked with very savvy grant writers over the years, and one key to their success was to sit as a reviewer on the funding agency’s study sections.”
Membership on a study section requires 40-60 hours of work prior to each of three yearly meetings, which themselves last another 15-20 hours, Dudley said. He credits HHP Dean Celia Hooper for making this service possible by considering it part of his workload.
“I am happy to share my experiences with those considering study section experience and point out that the NIH is always on the lookout for qualified reviewers and would encourage department heads to adjust workloads for this service,” he said.
Hooper said Dudley’s work for NIH has already paid dividends for UNCG and the School of Health and Human Performance.
“I see beneficial results every semester from Bill's expertise and experience with others at the national level in research,” Hooper said. “He sees opportunities at the national level and wonderful research connections for our faculty.”
He has held research, faculty and leadership positions at the Medical College of Georgia’s School of Nursing, Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and the University of Utah’s College of Nursing. He earned his bachelor’s in computer science at UNC Charlotte, his master’s and doctorate in experimental psychology at the University of Georgia.
Prior to joining UNCG in 2008, Dudley worked largely as a methodologist/statistician on numerous and varied federal and foundation grants. As a result, he has research experience across a wide array of health issues, including HIV risk reduction in adolescents and young adults, the effectiveness of interventions for colic in healthy newborns, nutrition in adults and nursing care in army medical centers. Much of his recent work has looked at how health care professionals communicate with cancer patients and quality of life issues for cancer patients, such as fatigue, depression, sleep patterns and sexual functioning.
He has held research, faculty and leadership positions at the Medical College of Georgia’s School of Nursing, Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and the University of Utah’s College of Nursing. He earned his bachelor’s in computer science at UNC Charlotte, and his master’s and doctorate in experimental psychology at the University of Georgia.