Nov. 10, 2006 -- According to the 2005 rankings recently released by the National Institutes of Health, eight graduate students at the University of Virginia School of Nursing won National Research Service Award fellowships, more winners than at any other nursing school in the nation.

Elizabeth I. Merwin, PhD, RN, FAAN, associate dean for research, observed,“We are delighted to learn how competitive our doctoral students are with their peers nationwide. The school’s research-intensive environment has made a concerted effort to support research by students as well as by faculty.”

The eight fellowships awarded are supporting research over a broad range of topics, including: end of life issues, the relationship of patient safety on patient outcomes, the effect of relaxation tapes on maternal stress, sexual abuse and assault, the relationship between blood pressure and risks of heart catheterization, medication decisionmaking by the seriously mentally ill, and improving asthma outcomes.

Recipients and their mentors include Sarah Anderson (mentor Barbara Parker), Cheryl Dumont (Arlene Keeling), Elizabeth Epstein (Ann Hamric), Nancy Jallo (Ann Taylor), Irma Mahone (Elizabeth Merwin), Mary O’Laughlen (Patricia Hollen), Melissa Sutherland (Barbara Parker), and Deidre Thornlow (Elizabeth Merwin).

These highly competitive NRSA grants cover tuition and fees and provide a stipend and health insurance for up to five years of pre-doctoral study. There is also an allowance that can be used for  a variety of professional purposes such as purchasing research supplies or travel for data collection and professional conferences.