Daniel O. Clark, PhD

Contact : daniclar@iu.edu

One of the greatest opportunities to improve population health lies in working with underserved subpopulations to turn known-to-be effective interventions (e.g., healthy diet, exercise) into appealing and accessible activities.

Initiatives

Research Scientist, Indiana University Center for Aging Research at Regenstrief Institute
Associate Professor, Indiana University School of Medicine

Dr. Clark is a medical sociologist working with interdisciplinary teams to investigate and intervene upon risk factors for adverse physical health or cognitive function. He is particularly interested in primary and secondary prevention among high-risk subpopulations. Dr. Clark has had a career-long focus on studying health disparities and designing novel chronic disease self-management and health behavior interventions in disparities populations.

Featured Projects

MIND Food and Speed of Processing Training in Older Adults with Low Education, The MINDSpeed Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Pilot Trial

(R01 – NIA) (2018-2022)

Role: Principal Investigator

This project will test in a pilot randomized controlled trial the effects of “MIND” foods and speed of processing training on cognitive reserve in older adults with low education.

Food Resources and Kitchen Skills (FoRKS) intervention

Role: Principal Investigator

The intervention involves home delivered ingredients and dietitian-led cooking classes among adult safety-net primary care patients who report food insecurity and have hypertension. Two pilot trials (total N=20) supported by Regenstrief Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, and Eskenazi Health resources showed high attendance and satisfaction and reductions in systolic blood pressure.

Role: Principal Investigator

Dr. Clark has also worked to create an intervention delivered by safety-net providers that integrates Mediterranean-Dash Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet and aerobic training (MAT). Following a pilot that showed high feasibility, a randomized trial to test this intervention was submitted and is pending at the National Institute on Aging.

Role: Principal Investigator

Dr. Clark is also leading an evaluation into the long-term impacts of enhanced screening and referral for social needs (e.g., food insecurity) on health care use and outcomes in the Eskenazi Health federally qualified health centers. This work is partially supported by the Regenstrief Foundation through the Office of Applied Research.