Summaries of Independent Scientist (K) Awards

Lee, Grace

Institution: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Grant Title: Strategies for Group A Streptococcal Prevention
Grant Number:  K08 HS013908
Duration: 5 years  (2004-2009)
Total Award: $640,035

Project Description: The goal of this research is to enhance our understanding of how to incorporate patient preferences and advanced modeling methods in evaluating the cost effectiveness of interventions against infections. This project has four specific aims:

1. To determine the societal costs and health state preferences for Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection such as pharyngitis.
2. To create a decision-analytic model to estimate the costs and health outcomes of selective vaccination strategies to prevent invasive GAS disease.
3. To determine the cost-effectiveness of universal vaccination strategies for infants and/or children through mathematical modeling.
4. To evaluate the costs and outcomes of current management strategies for pharyngitis and model the potential downstream impact of a GAS vaccine.

Career Goals: Dr. Lee received her M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia and did her residency in pediatrics at Children's Hospital Boston and Boston Medical Center.  She later earned her M.P.H. from Harvard School of Public Health.  Dr. Lee's overall long-term goal is to become a health services researcher who is able to bring her expertise in pediatric infectious diseases to the field.  She seeks to advance her knowledge in decision sciences by further education in decision analysis and measurement of health state preference.  She also seeks to be able to translate research into policy in order to successfully communicate her research findings to a broad policy audience.

Progress to Date: The Cost and Preferences telephone survey has been completed as has the analyses of parent preferences for GAS disease and vaccination.

Future Plans: In the coming year, Dr. Lee plans to complete data analysis and submit manuscripts for publication.

Highlights and Specific Accomplishments:

• Professional Societies:
  • Massachusetts Medical Society.
  • American Medical Association.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Instructor, Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Medical School & Pilgrim Health Care, Boston, MA.
• Pediatric Infectious Diseases Attending, Children's Hospital Boston, MA.
• Infectious Diseases Society of America Travel Award, 2002.
• Edward H. Kass Award for Clinical Excellence, Massachusetts Infectious Disease Society, 2003.
• Pyle Fellowship Award, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, 2003.

K-Generated Publications:

Lee GM, LeBaron C, Murphy TV, et al. Pertussis in adolescents and adults: Should we vaccinate? Pediatrics 2005. (115)6:1675-83.

Lee Gm, Santoli JM, Hannan C, et al. Gaps in vaccine financing for underinsured children in the United States. Journal of the American Medical Association 2007. 298(6):638-43.

Lee GM, Murphy TV, Lett S, et al. Cost-effectiveness of pertussis vaccination for adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2007. 32(3):186-93

Lee GM. Varicella vaccination in adults: Is it cost-effective? Clinical Infectious Disease 2007. 44:1040-48.

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