Co-Principal Investigator: Jim Burch

Funding Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Research and Development, Clinical Science Research and Development Program

Study Period: 4/1/15–3/31/19

This randomized, sham-controlled, pilot intervention trial will examine whether heart rate variability biofeedback improves parasympathetic tone and ameliorates pain, stress and insomnia among Veteran patients with chronic, neuromusculoskeletal pain.

Principal Investigator: Jim Burch

Funding Source: Greenville Health System Cancer Institute

Study Period: 3/1/15–3/31/16

This study will test the hypothesis that heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-B) restores autonomic balance and has the effect of reducing pain and related symptoms among cancer survivors. The specific aims are to: (1) conduct a randomized, controlled, pilot intervention trial to determine whether HRV-B increases HRV coherence among cancer survivors (minimum N of 20 [10 per group], up to 100 total [50 per group]); (2) determine whether HRV-B reduces pain, stress, fatigue, depression or insomnia among cancer survivors; and (3) determine whether an increase in HRV coherence reduces pain, stress, fatigue, depression or insomnia in the study population.

Principal Investigator: Jim Burch

Funding Source: Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Services Research and Development

Study Period: 1/1/10–9/30/14

This retrospective cohort study utilizde pre-existing, de-identified data to test the hypothesis that sleep disorder diagnoses among Veterans are associated with an increased incidence of prostate, breast, colorectal or total cancer.

Co-Principal Investigators: Susan Steck and Jim Burch

Funding Source: National Cancer Institute

Study Period: 5/1/08–4/30/12

This case-control study examined whether circadian disruption or dietary factors influence methylation of specific cancer-related genes, including clock genes, among individuals with adenomatous polyps and controls.