Journal of Yoga & Physical Therapy
Open Access

Taylor AG

Biography

    Currently, her research is focused around the premise that there may be links among the musculoskeletal, vascular, neuroendocrine, and the central nervous system in patients who suffer from fibromyalgia. She and her colleagues recently explored, too, using flow cytometry to determine whether or not there might be increased inflammation in persons diagnosed with fibromyalgia compared to matched control participants. Dr. Taylor incorporates into most of the studies conducted through the exploration of psychological factors (absorption, negative affect, positive affect, social desirability) that may be associated with the use of complementary health-enhancing therapies.    Professor Taylor was principal investigator on a CAM Research Training Grant (T32), which ended August 2012, and an academic career award (K07), which ended June 2012, that supported her leadership in the field of complementary therapies research, both of which were funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. With regard to mentoring both pre- and postdoctoral trainees over the 13 years of the T32 award, she was actively involved in the mentoring of 19 predoctoral trainees, 6 of whom were from disciplines other than nursing, and 19 postdoctoral trainees, 15 of whom were from disciplines other than nursing (physicians, a Pharm D., naturopathic physicians, an immunologist, a physiologist, chiropractors, epidemiologists, nutritionists, and a clinical psychologist). In 2011, Professor Taylor completed a series of courses in the University’s Darden School of Business, receiving a certificate in management.   She also completed a research award from the National Cancer Institute that supported her research on use of a mind and body practice, therapeutic massage, to enhance the quality of life of patients undergoing treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. She continues to bring her combined skills and knowledge of rigorous clinical research planning and implementation and knowledge of curriculum development and instruction to clinical research training for graduate students, distinguished majors, and others who seek her out for mentoring.

Research Interest

 Symptom management using complementary health-enhancing therapies in chronically ill patient populations; influence of behavioral interventions in self-management of type 2 diabetes mellitus

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