The research team

The people behind UP2U.

UP2U is developed and led by the University of Virginia Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Research — a multidisciplinary team of scientists with a history of collaboration on NIH- and foundation-funded clinical trials.

Principal Investigator

Dr. Melissa Little

PhD, MPH

Director, Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Research
Cancer Control and Population Health, UVA Cancer Center
Department of Public Health Sciences

Dr. Melissa Little is a behavioral scientist with expertise in tobacco and nicotine product (TNP) control, motivational interviewing, and both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. She has extensive experience leading large-scale randomized clinical trials and developing brief TNP prevention interventions for school settings.

An Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at UVA and a member of the UVA Cancer Center, Dr. Little's research focuses on reducing cancer health disparities in Appalachia through interventions targeting tobacco use and promoting vaccines and cancer screenings. She also leads research on healthy behaviors among active duty military, retirees, and their dependents.

Co-investigators

Expert collaborators.

Epidemiologist

Dr. Kara P. Wiseman

PhD, MPH

Dr. Wiseman specializes in the evaluation and development of technology-based tobacco and nicotine product interventions. On UP2U, Dr. Wiseman oversees the program's technical assistance strategy and trains participants in the use of the digital tools.
Behavioral Economist

Dr. Wen You

PhD

Dr. You provides expertise in randomized clinical trial design and economic evaluations. On UP2U, Dr. You is responsible for calculating the program's incremental costs, cost-savings, and overall cost-effectiveness.
Behavioral Scientist · Implementation Science

Dr. Kathleen J. Porter

PhD, RD

Dr. Porter brings specific training in implementation science, qualitative research, and school-based interventions. On UP2U, Dr. Porter oversees qualitative analysis for the project — including the evaluation of focus groups and session notes.
Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Rebecca Krukowski

PhD

Dr. Krukowski has expertise in implementation fidelity, motivational interviewing, and leading focus groups. On UP2U, Dr. Krukowski oversees the classroom observation procedures used to assess how faithfully the program is implemented in schools.

Research staff

On the ground.

Research Specialist Intermediate · Study Coordinator

Dylan Allanson

MPH, RD

Dylan Allanson obtained both his bachelor's and MPH degree from Virginia Tech and has made rural public health the center of his career in research and in practice. He currently serves as the study coordinator for the UP2U program — including on-site technical assistance for participating schools in Virginia.
Research Specialist Intermediate

Ashley DeMoss

MPH

Ashley DeMoss works within the Department of Public Health Sciences at UVA, focused on the development and delivery of community-based tobacco prevention and control interventions. As a Tobacco Treatment Specialist, she assists with data collection, management, and analysis. She earned her MPH from Eastern Virginia Medical School and holds a bachelor's degree in Neuroscience.
Research Specialist Intermediate

Ella Jakum

MPH

Ella works as a Research Specialist, participant recruiter, and data analyst. In both her clinical and research work, she is dedicated to understanding and treating the social determinants of health in rural Appalachia. Ella earned both a master's degree in public health and bachelor's degree in human biology from the University of Virginia.
Research Specialist

Abigail Wester

MPH

Abbey Wester earned her MPH from the University of Virginia. Focused primarily on the development and implementation of interventions to aid tobacco use cessation and prevention among medically underserved communities, she assists with participant recruitment, literature reviews, IRB proposals, and qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
Database Manager

Matthew Moncrief

BS Psychology

Matthew Moncrief develops and maintains research databases that track participants as they move through studies. He collaborates with the team to automate processes, produces monitoring reports, and performs data analysis. He also works with the UVA Center for Diabetes Technology on a multi-site trial evaluating a lifestyle intervention for Type 2 Diabetes.