Doctoral Candidate Awarded a NIH Predoctoral Fellowship Grant

Moira Visovatti is granted funds to pursue research on cognitive and immune function in colorectal cancer patients.

Moira Visovatti, a student in the University of Michigan School of Nursing doctoral program, was recently awarded a National Research Service Award (NRSA) from the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). Working with her faculty advisor, Dr. Bernadine Cimprich, Moira’s study is entitled, “Pretreatment Assessment of Cognitive and Immune Function in Individuals Newly Diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer.” The project builds on Moira’s dissertation research and seeks to examine if a relationship exists between attention/memory deficits and alterations in specific protein molecules that contribute to inflammation. It will also determine whether certain behavioral expressions of sickness are associated with impaired cognitive function prior to any treatment for the disease.