Research at The Ohio State University Center for Integrative Health focuses on the development, implementation and evaluation of integrative modalities for a variety of populations. Our researchers represent expertise in the fields of mindfulness, massage therapy, integrative approaches for the management of cancer and chronic illness and implementation science.
Focused populations include:
- Patients in the preoperative environment
- People with multiple sclerosis (MS)
- People with breast cancer
- Cancer survivors
- Health care workers
- Firefighters
- University Dance majors
- African American caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients
- People with sickle cell disease
The Ohio State Center for Integrative Health is a member of the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health (ACIMH), with active participation in the consortium’s research, mindfulness, and integrative nursing special interest groups.
In addition, researchers at the Center for Integrative Health participate in the BraveNet Practice-based Research Network. This group is comprised of academic clinicians and researchers from 32 integrative centers around the United States and the world. During regular meetings, they collaborate by sharing information, clinical outcomes, cost-benefit data and ideas that have previously not been available to medical and scientific communities.
Current Funded Research Projects and Collaborations
- “Effectiveness of a mind-body conditioning course for university dance majors”
- Ohio Campus Community Partnership (OCCP) grant initiative, under the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The Mindful College Student Program delivered to Dennison University students.
- “Effects of peppermint softgels and Mindfulness in Motion on symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome: A multi-arm feasibility study”
- Mindfulness in Motion for persons with multiple sclerosis
- “Effectiveness of focused massage on pain, mobility, and quality of life during radiation treatment for patients with breast cancer”
- “Enhancing quality of patient experience via an innovative reduction of preoperative anxiety”
- “A virtual reality mindfulness-based intervention: The impact and acceptability for nurse managers in an academic medical center”
- “Improving stress and hypertension outcomes in African American female caregivers of persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias”
- Mindfulness in the emergency department for patients with substance use disorder
- Sickle cell mindfulness-based pain management via a mobile application
- Mindfulness in Motion - 30 for health care workers
- Mindfulness in Motion for people with multiple sclerosis
More about Integrative Health Research
Klatt M, Caputo J, Tripodo J et al., A highly effective mindfulness intervention for burnout prevention and resiliency building in nurses. AIMS Public Health. 2025; 12(1): 91–105. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2025007.
Wright K, Moss K, Helsabeck N, Adams IR, Rose K, Klatt MD. An objective measure of stress reactivity/resilience in Black women dementia family caregivers. Innov Aging. 2024; 8(Suppl 1): 969–70. doi: 10.1093/geroni/igae098.3123.
Steinberg B, Clark S, Justice M, Michell A, Klatt M. The impact of an animal assisted activity on healthcare worker well-being in the inpatient hospital setting. Int J Complement Altern Med. 2024; 17(4): 174-182. doi: 10.15406/ijcam.2024.17.00701.
Merrigan JJ, Klatt M, Quatman-Yates C, et al. Incorporating biofeedback into the Mindfulness in Motion intervention for health care professionals: impact on sleep and stress. EXPLORE. 2024; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2024.103022
Childerhose JE, Emerson B, Schamess A, Caputo J, Williams M, Klatt MD. “I can't cry on cue”: exploring distress experiences of persons with sickle cell. SSM-Qualitative Research in Health. 2024; 100426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2024.100426.
Kelly, EP, Klatt M, Caputo J, et al. A single-arm pilot of MyInspiration: a novel digital resource to support spiritual needs of patients undergoing cancer-directed surgery. Support Care Cancer. 2024; 32: 289 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-024-08496-1.
Palmer KE, McGee J Klatt M, Beckers G, Pawlik TM. The use of brief mindfulness interventions in the context of perioperative care. Am Surg. 2024; 90(6): 1657–1665.
Emerson B, Reddy M, Reiter PL,et al. Mindfulness-based interventions across the cancer continuum in the United States: a scoping review. Am J Health Promot. 2024; 38(4):560-575.https://doi.org/10.1177/08901171241227316
Wright KD, Adams IKR, Helsabeck NP, et al. Stress and hypertension self-care pilot study for Black women caregivers of people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Alzheimer’s Dement. 2023;supp 19. doi: 10.1002/alz.073841.
Merrigan JJ, Quatman-Yates C, Caputo J,et al. Assessment of virtual mindfulness-based training for health care professionals: improved self-reported respiration rates, perceived stress, and resilience. Glob Adv Integr Med Health. 2023; 12. doi: 10.1177/27536130231187636.
Childerhose J, Cronin R, Klatt M, Schamess A Treating chronic pain in sickle cell disease: the need for a biopsychosocial model. N Engl J Med. 2023; 388(15). doi: 10.1056/NEJMp2215502.
Richards, EL, Wright KD, Richards Adams IK, et al. Hair cortisol concentration, perceived stress, mental well-being, and cardiovascular health in African American older adults: a pilot study. Geriatrics. 2022; 7(3): 53. doi: 10.3390/geriatrics7030053.
Selfe TK, Montgomery C, Klatt M, Wen S, Sherman KJ, Innes KE. An exploratory randomized controlled trial of a 12-week yoga versus educational film program for the management of restless legs syndrome: feasibility and acceptability. J Integr Complement Med. 2022; 28(4):309–319. doi: 10.1089/jicm.2021.0182.
Evans, KD, Sommerich CM, Stigall-Weikle AN, Stokes AD, Klatt MD Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among radiographers: an exploration of self-reported symptoms. Radiologic Technology. 2021; 93(2): 161–176.
Klatt MD, Bawa R, Gabram O, Westrick A, Blake A. The necessary thread of mindfulness intervention fidelity assurance: enabling an organizational strategy to promote health care professional well-being. Glob Adv Health Med. 2021; 11. doi: 10.1177/21649561211052902.
Klatt M, Bawa R, Gabram O, Westrick A Blake A. Synchronous Mindfulness in Motion online: Strong results, strong attendance at a critical time for health care professionals (HCPs) in the COVID era. Front Psychol. 2021; 18 Aug: 3548. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.725810.
Von Visger T, Thrane S, Klatt M, Chang, YP Happ, MB. Deep relaxation with complementary urban Zen integrative therapy: qualitative thematic analysis. West J Nurse Res. 2021; 43(8): 723–731. doi/pdf/10.1177/0193945920973941.
Klatt M, Westrick A, Bawa R, Gabram O, Blake A, Emerson B. Sustained resiliency building and burnout reduction for healthcare professionals via organizational sponsored mindfulness programming. Explore. 2021; 18(2):179–186. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2021.04.004.
Wright KD, Jones LM, Adams IR, et al. Co-created health education intervention (Co-CHIN) among older African American women living with hypertension. Explore (NY). 2021; 18(2): 234–239.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2021.02.004.
Gabram O, Klatt M. Mindfulness in Motion for the resilient cancer survivor and their caregiver:creating community in a socially distanced world. J. Aging Sci. 2021; 9(54): 1–2. S4:005.
Klatt MD, Bawa R, Gabram O, Blake A, Steinberg B, Westrick A, Holliday S. Embracing change: a mindful medical center meets COVID-19. Glob Adv Health Med.2020; 9. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2164956120975369
Wright KD, Klatt M, Adams I, et al. Mindfulness in Motion and dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) in hypertensive African Americans. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020; 69(3), 773–778. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16947.
Evans K, Stigal-Weikle N, Klatt M, Sommerich C. Macro-ergonomics discussions with administrators, directors, and managers in radiology and oncology. Radiology Management. 2020; 42(2).
Brooks AJ, Maizes V, Billimek J, et al. Professional development in integrative health through an interprofessional online course in clinical settings. Explore (NY). 2021; 17(6): 505–512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2020.02.014.
Innes KE, Selfe TK, Montgomery C, et al. Effects of a 12-week yoga versus a 12-week educational film intervention on symptoms of restless legs syndrome and related outcomes: an exploratory randomized controlled trial. JCSM. 2020; 16 (1):107–19.
7/1/2025-6/30/2026 Care Innovation and Community Improvement Program (CICIP)
Klatt, M, Schamess, A. (CoPIs)
Development of a Mobile Application to Train Adults with Sickle Cell Disease in Mindfulness-Based Pain Management: Adaptation to Emergency Department Acute Pain Patients.
Amount $185,220
5/26/2022-6/31/2024 1R21AG077069-01 NIA Wright (PI)
Co-Investigators: Klatt, M.D., Adams, I., & Rose, K.
Addressing the double jeopardy of stress and hypertension among African American female caregivers of persons living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. This RCT study will test a behavioral intervention (MIM DASH) to promote hypertension self-care in African American women caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias. Findings from the pilot study will inform the infrastructure for a larger trial.
Amount: $433,125
1/2024-12/2024 “Mindfulness in Motion for Multiple Sclerosis Patients”. Multiple Sclerosis Foundation Quality of Life Grant.
Amount: $18,334
9/2024-12/2025 Effectiveness of a Mind-Body Conditioning Course for the Management of Physical and Emotional Stressors in University Dance Students. Klatt, M. (PI); Steinberg, B., (co-I); Calamoneri, T. (co-I); Cervera, A. (co-I). Undergraduate Research Access Innovation Seed Grant, The Ohio State University.
Amount: $9,825
6/1/22-5/31/24 "Mindfulness in Motion Targeted to Sustaining the Mental and Physical Resilience of First Responders and Health System Employees" M. Klatt, PI, C. Quatman-Yates (CO-PI), B. Steinberg, M. Williams, J. Caputo, A. Blake, G. Alain, S. Holliday, AM Duchemin. Amount: Overall goals of project: The long-term goal of this project is to improve and sustain the health and wellness of both HCPs and FRs to help mitigate and prevent the downstream consequences of chronic stress. Goals of project: To adapt MIM to a FR population while adding a Mobile app for ease of use for HCPs.
Amount: $300,000
7/1/22-6/30/23 "The Buckeye Pause Bundle: Augmenting State of Mind and Body as the Ultimate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) " (CO-PI’s), C. Quatman-Yates, M. Klatt, B. Steinberg, M. Williams, J. Caputo, A. Blake, A-M. Duchemin, K. Daniel, J. Hagen, J. Merrigan, A. Emerson, J. Buskirk, S. Jonaus. Overall goals of project: The long-term goal of this project is to utilize the Mindfulness in Motion program along with Framery Q Isolation pods for practice in 4 locations around the Wexner Medical Center, Oura Rings and Chest Straps to study participants HRV and other physical metrics that can be changed by engaging in mindfulness and gentle movement practices. Role: CO PI.
Amount: $1,477,489
12/1/2020-11/30/21 Wright, K.D., Adams, R. I., Klatt, M.D., Dillard, W.J., Nguyen, C.M. Scharre, D.W., Mion, L.C., Rose, K.M., & Tan., A. Community partners (Lawson- Wilson, K. & Shields, L.D.). Operating Under Resilience (OUR) Project: Stress and emotion Management for Black/African American Women with Hypertension in Covid- 19 Social Distancing Society. The Ohio State University Racial Justice Seed Grant
Amount: $48,600
10/15-10/20 “The Institute for the Design of Environments Aligned for Patient Safety (IDEA4PS)”. Moffatt-Bruce, S (PI), McAlearney, AS, Huerta, TR, Sieck, C, Hefner, J, Klatt, M (Co I’s) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. P 30 Center Grant 00039564, project # 60050165,
Amount: $3,963,276
7/11/21-6/30/22 Klatt, M. Mindfulness in Motion Scaling and Dissemination, Funded by the Entertainment Industry Foundation, 50K/50K match via Community Donor