In The News

CMAH LAB UROP Students present at 2024 Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program symposium 

CMAH LAB Students (from left to right: Martin Joe Clynes and John Mark Adams presented at 2024 Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program symposium. The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program’s Annual Research Symposia are the culminating events for all students participating in UROP Programs. The event celebrates the partnerships created between students and research mentors, and serves as a conference where students present their research project and learn about the research their fellow UROP students have worked on throughout the program.



CMAH LAB doctoral student Stephanie Palmer publishes in International Journal of Early Childhood 

CMAH LAB doctoral student Stephanie Palmer is the first author of the paper, "Exploring if Playground Quality Predicts Head Start Preschoolers’ School Day Physical Activity" published in International Journal of Early Childhood . Read the article

CMAH LAB doctoral student Leesi George-Komi secures MCDTR/ ADA  Funded Grant to perform a Program Evaluation of CLR Academy

The Community Leadership Revolution (CLR) Academy is an emerging youth sports program aiming to improve minority children's health. CLR uses sports to foster mindfulness, promote physical activity, and encourage healthy nutrition - tools associated with reducing diabetes risk factors. CLR provides a valuable service to Washtenaw County's black community, focusing on potential health issues, but the connection between youth engagement frequency with CLR and health outcomes remains uncertain. To bridge this knowledge gap, our study will explore how frequently engaging with a youth sports program (i.e., CLR) may impact diabetes risk factors, specifically youth’s physical activity, nutrition, mental health, and anthropometrics. Additionally, we will examine how CLR engagement affects the link between discrimination and diabetes risk factors. A comprehensive analysis of CLR's effectiveness is also planned. The study results promise valuable insights into the complex relationship between sports participation, diabetes risk factors, and discrimination. The research outcomes will not only aid CLR in bettering its activities but can also guide further comprehensive evaluations of other youth programs, leading to a more refined approach to intervention.

CMAH LAB director Dr. Leah Robinson and CMAH LAB Research Scientist Dr. Kara Palmer receive Paper of the Year honor from Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports

Faculty members Dr. Leah Robinson and Dr. Kara Palmer 's paper, "Mastery-oriented motor competence intervention improves behavioral but not cognitive self-regulation in head start preschoolers: Randomized controlled trial results," was one of four articles that received "Paper of the Year" commendation from the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. 

CMAH LAB Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr. Maria Enid Santiago-Rodriguez publishes in PLOS One

CMAH LAB Postdoctoral research fellow Dr. Maria Enid Santiago-Rodriguez is the first author of the paper, "Sociodemographic disparities in sedentary time among US youth vary by period of the day," published in PLOS One. Read the article

CMAH LAB director Dr. Leah Robinson wins Faculty Research Excellence Award

The SoK Faculty Research Excellence Award is selected by the executive committee and associate deans based on research accomplishments of the previous year. This year's winner is movement science professor Leah Robinson. 

CMAH LAB doctoral student Stephanie Palmer publishes in Michigan Science Writers  

CMAH LAB doctoral student Stephanie Palmer published a two part blog for Michigan Science Writers based on her dissertation research. Michigan Science Writers is an organization on campus that gives students the opportunity to practice science communication by writing a blog post, somewhat like a newspaper article.  Read the Blog 

CMAH LAB doctoral student Leesi George-Komi featured on MICHR website 

CMAH LAB doctoral student Leesi George-Komi was featured on MICHR website for making a significant impact in the field of health research, particularly in pediatric care and interventions that improve mental and physical health. Read the article

Robinson, George-Komi, K. Palmer, and S. Palmer publish in Journal of Sport and Exercise Physiology

Faculty member Leah Robinson is the senior author of the paper, "Sex Differences in Perceived Motor Competence After the Children’s Health Activity Motor Program Intervention," published in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Physiology. PhD student Leesi George-Komi is the first author; faculty member Kara Palmer and PhD student Stephanie Palmer are co-authors. Read the article. 

CMAH LAB UROP Students present at 2023 Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program symposium

CMAH LAB Students (from left to right: Stefan Moreno, Nancy Ramirez, and Daley Fitzpatrick) presented at 2023 Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program symposium. The Conference, Titled “Humanizing Research: The Quest for Authentic Action”, Celebrates partnership between undergraduate students and their research mentors.

Robinson and Pfeiffer secure NIH grant to help keep children moving and active 

Dr. Leah Robinson, professor of Movement Science and Movement Science alumni, Dr. Karin Allor Pfeiffer (B.S., 1994), who is a professor of Kinesiology at Michigan State University received a five year, $2.6 million R01 from the National Insitute of Health National Institute of Nursing Research to implement movement-focused interventions in after-school programs. 


Please click here to review the NIH Reporter to learn more about the grant: 

Katie Scott-Andrews and Carissa Wengrovius publish in Eating and Weight Disorders Journal 

Ph.D. students Katie Scott-Andrews and Carissa Wengrovius, and advisor Dr. Leah Robinson, recently published in Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity. The article, "Parents accurately perceive problematic eating behaviors but overestimate physical activity levels in preschool children" examines associations between parental perceptions of their child's activity and eating behaviors to their actual activity and anthropometrics.  The article can be accessed here


Congrats, Katie and Carissa!


Katie Scott-Andrews publishes in Health Behavior and Policy Review 

Ph.D. Katie Scott-Andrews recently published in Health Behavior and Policy Review. "Improving Adolescent Health: A Comparison of 2 After-School Programs" presents data collected during Katie's master's program at the University of Texas, Austin.

The article can be accessed here.


Congratulations, Katie!