Veronica Walker Receives R21 Grant for Groundbreaking Research on Aging Women with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

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Published:
January 27, 2025
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Verónica García Walker, PhD, RN, CNE, clinical associate professor, has been awarded a prestigious R21 grant from the National Institutes of Health to explore the perceptions of aging women living with schizophrenia spectrum disorders in institutional settings. This research promises to contribute to improving the social connectedness and quality of life for this vulnerable population.

An R21 grant supports early-stage, exploratory research. It funds innovative projects with limited preliminary data, allowing researchers like García Walker’s to conduct pilot studies and proof-of-concept research. This type of grant encourages high-risk, high-reward studies that can lead to significant advancements in understanding health outcomes, like García Walker’s work on the social connectedness of aging women with schizophrenia spectrum disorders in institutional settings.

García Walker shared her excitement about the research, which involves listening to the experiences of women living with these diagnoses.

"It’s a lovely project,” she said. “I am given the honor of listening to the life course experiences of women who are aging with the diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. In our recent pilot study, many of them told me this was the first time they felt someone listened to their stories. Since they seemed to enjoy sharing, and I enjoy listening, we are a good combination."

Her research focuses on the theme of social connectedness, a critical issue for women in institutional settings.

"We will analyze their input in order to extract themes related to social connectedness that are of importance to them, using Elder’s life course theory as a model,” she explained. “This allows us to respect their input as co-collaborators in informing future improvements in their care.”

The project aims to identify key issues such as loneliness, worry and lack of social interaction, which were highlighted in the pilot study. These themes will inform interventions designed to improve the social experiences of aging women with schizophrenia in institutional settings.

García Walker’s dedication to this research stems from her years of experience as a psychiatric floor nurse and faculty member at the School of Nursing.

"I have often been shocked by the difficulty of many of their lives and their encounters with stigma," she said. "Many of my own personal patients in practice had the diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. I wanted to support them as they told their life stories and shared their perceptions of their healthcare experiences with the world."

She emphasized the importance of including this population in research, noting that little has been done to address their specific health care needs.

"Excluding these individuals from decisions to participate in research may increase their experiences of stigmatization and marginalization," she added. "Because institutionalized adult women aging with the diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders are a vulnerable population with unique, complex problems, it is important to explore those problems to inform evidenced-based interventions and programs."

García Walker’s vision for her research is clear: "With their input, we will be able to begin co-development with them of interventions and programs specifically tailored to their situation," she said. "In this way, we will assist in improving their experiences of social connectedness as they age in institutions."

García Walker also thanked her co-investigator, Tracie Harrison, associate dean of research at the University of Iowa, for her ongoing support. 

"She is a rare and gifted individual who has believed in the value of my research from the beginning and encouraged me to move forward," García Walker said.

In addition, she is actively collaborating with the Capital Area Social & Activity Coordinators Association, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals in long-term care communities.

"They have generously offered me both support and encouragement," she added. "I am very pleased to have the privilege of working with them."

Looking to the future, Walker plans to continue submitting grants to further her research in this important field.

"I am committed to executing my current grant and exploring more opportunities to help improve the lives of these women," she concluded.