Research Briefs

Professor Finalist for Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year

Dr. Lori (Elmore) Baker, BA '93, MA '94, associate professor of anthropology in Baylor's College of Arts and Sciences, was named one of nine finalists for Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year, for her efforts identifying immigrants who died while crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Baker, who founded the Reuniting Families Project in 2003, has worked to identify the unknown and provide their families with closure and an opportunity to give their loved ones a proper burial. In a Dec. 18 Dallas Morning News editorial, Baker is quoted about her efforts: "We're better than leaving the dead forgotten, no matter how they came here. I want people to know Texas, and the Texas spirit, is better than that." The Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year recognizes "a Texan (or Texans) who has had uncommon impact--either positive or negative--over the year."

Baylor Researchers Release Free App to screen for Pediatric Eye Cancer

Two Baylor faculty members have collaborated to create a new smartphone app that allows users to screen their children for retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer, just by taking a picture.

Dr. Bryan Shaw, an assistant professor of chemistry in Baylor's College of Arts and Sciences, has a personal connection to the topic: his son Noah lost his right eye to retinoblastoma. Noah was diagnosed at 3 months of age, but signs of the disease showed up much sooner. In photos taken in the first few weeks of Noah's life, Shaw and his wife noticed that his right eye had a white glow that was very different from the red-eye effect commonly seen in photographs of children. The white-eye effect can be a normal photography artifact, but can also indicate serious eye diseases including retinoblastoma.

Shaw teamed with Dr. Greg Hamerly, an associate professor of computer science in Baylor's School of Engineering & Computer Science, to develop the app. The app can scan existing photos on the user's phone to look for images that may show cause for concern, or it can be used to take new photographs for evaluation.

The app, called CRADLE (ComputeR Assisted Detector of LEukocoria), is available free for iOS devices on the Apple iTunes store.

Youth pastors feel ill-equipped to help young people cope with mental health issues

Many college and youth pastors feel ill-prepared to recognize and treat mental illness, according to a Baylor study, "Adolescent mental health: the role of youth and college pastors," published in the journal Mental Health, Religion & Culture.

Among the survey's findings:

• 50 percent said they had received training related to mental illness, but only 26 percent reported they felt qualified to work with young people dealing with significant mental health issues.
• 78.7 percent had worked with one to 10 adolescents a year whom they knew or thought had mental health issues.

The study showed that youth and college pastors' most common method of intervention was to meet with the adolescent and refer the individual to a mental health professional, said Dr. Matthew S. Stanford, professor of psychology and neuroscience in Baylor's College of Arts and Sciences.

The sample of youth pastors showed they believe that psychological wellbeing affects spiritual development. They also lacked training and confidence to interact with the mental health system, and some tensions and conflicts exist between pastors and mental health professionals.

Researchers recommended that mental health professionals working with religious youths consider the role of the youth pastor and reach out to faith communities to collaborate. Co-researcher was William Hunter, a doctoral candidate of clinical psychology at Baylor.

New Model of Ministry Transforms At-Risk Community

A new model of ministry that empowers residents in at-risk West Dallas to transform their communities has resulted in crime reduction, better meeting of health needs, obtaining jobs and improved student academic performance, according to research by Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion.

The research is based on a return-of-investment analysis and measurement of outcome-driven efforts of Serve West Dallas (SWD), a nonprofit collaborative organization founded in 2009.

"The idea of a backbone organization to support a collaborative of nonprofits is a stroke of genius and is what tends to be missing in so many efforts around the country to transform blighted communities," said lead researcher Byron Johnson, co-director of Baylor’s Institute for Studies of Religion. Since its founding, Serve West Dallas has achieved what one ministry partner calls a "more holistic, less piecemeal approach to ministry." Aside from changing lives for the better, "the economic impact alone of the SWD collaborative is a finding that is of significant interest to many," Johnson said.

"Partnerships are needed not only between local ministries but also with secular organizations and businesses," Johnson said. "But SWD is a reminder that alliances between urban and suburban congregations can be a catalyst to build and sustain community transformation."