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Shameka L. Cody Assistant Professor, Capstone College of Nursing

Now accepting undergraduate, graduate, and post-doc students from all disciplines

ABOUT ME

I am an Assistant Professor and board-certified Adult and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner at The University of Alabama, Capstone College of Nursing. My research focuses on sleep quality in adults with HIV age 50 and older. I am passionate about transdisciplinary research and community engagement which are essential to address the diverse needs of the aging HIV population. One subpopulation at risk for sleep disturbance are individuals with HIV and substance use disorder. How do we reach this vulnerable population and optimize their healthcare? The objective of my work is to examine the efficacy of existing sleep therapies as well as develop novel sleep interventions to reduce health disparities among people with HIV, especially those living in rural Alabama.

Exploring Racial Disparities in Sleep Health and Neurocognitive Function in Older Adults with HIV

The purpose of this study is to examine sleep and cognitive function using objective and subjective measures in older African Americans and Caucasians with HIV. Participants are asked to wear a sleep monitor (Actiwatch 2 device by Philips Respironics) and keep a sleep diary for 7 days. EEG/ERP measures are used to examine resting and task-related electrical brain activity. Other study variables include depressive symptoms, quality of life, antiretroviral medication adherence, and activities of daily living.

Research Team: Pamela Payne Foster, MD, MPH, Professor, CCHS, School of Medicine, University of Alabama; Heather Gunn, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology at The University of Alabama; & David E. Vance, PhD, MGS, Professor, University of Alabama in Birmingham, School of Nursing

Funding Source: The National Institute of Health, National Institute of Aging. The project is sponsored by the UAB Deep South Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR)

The Impact of Insomnia on Substance Use in People with HIV

The purpose of this project is to support the primary objective of the parent R01 grant (PI: Goodin, University of Alabama at Birmingham): examining the impact of insomnia on chronic pain and inflammatory processes in people living with HIV. I was awarded this research supplement in April 2020 which focuses on the role of insomnia on chronic pain in people living with HIV and substance use disorder.

Research Team: Burel R. Goodin, PhD, Associate Professor, UAB Department of Psychology, Director of Biobehavioral Pain Research Laboratory; S. Justin Thomas, PhD, Assistant Professor, UAB Department of Psychiatry, Director of Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program; Karen Cropsey, Psy.D, Professor, UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Center for Addiction and Pain Prevention and Intervention; Joanna Hobson, PhD student, UAB Department of Psychology; Shannon Gilstrap, PhD student, UAB Department of Psychology; Gabrielle Gloston, PhD student, UAB Department of Psychology; Dyan White, Lab Coordinator, UAB Department of Psychology; Tammie Quinn, Lab Manager, UAB Department of Psychology

Funding Source: The National Institute of Health - National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Trancranial Direction Current Stimulation (tDCS)
Nursing Education Related to Opioid Use Disorder and Naloxone Training

Hines, C. B., Cody, S. L., Eyer, J., Coupe, L. (in press, 2020) Opioid prevention education and naloxone training for Baccalaureate nursing students. Journal of Addictions Nursing

During the Summer of 2019, I travelled with a group of UA research scientists to Cape Coast, Ghana and participated in the 1st University of Alabama - Ghana Joint Research Symposium.