The Wayne State University College of Nursing is proud to announce the establishment of the Dr. Margaret L. Campbell Annual Research Award for Symptom Science. The internal research award was created by College of Nursing Professor Margaret Campbell, PhD, RN, FPCN, who retired this fall after more than a decade at Wayne State.  

The award is the largest internal research grant at the college to date, with an annual minimum of $20,000 to promote and support faculty research focusing on symptom science. 

“Symptom science is such an important domain of nursing research,” Campbell said. “Unrelieved distressing symptoms impact not only quality of life but functioning as well. Nurses, more than other clinicians, focus on symptoms, their assessment and treatment. This award ensures that this domain is addressed by our talented scientists at the Wayne State College of Nursing.” 

Campbell began her nursing career as an adult critical care staff nurse and later became an acute care nurse practitioner focusing on palliative care. Recognizing numerous gaps in empirical evidence in the field, she began producing prospective descriptive correlational studies that led to her to doctoral work at the University of Michigan. Since then, Campbell has become an internationally recognized nurse scientist, renowned for her research on assessment and treatment of dyspnea among adult patients who are approaching the end of life. 

“Dr. Campbell is an outstanding researcher, educator and colleague whose contributions to our college cannot be overstated,” said College of Nursing Dean Laurie Lauzon Clabo. “She has already made a lasting impact across the globe through her scholarly contributions. In our institution, she has been a leader, respected scholar and role model. Her award will drive research and discovery at the College of Nursing in an incredibly important field of study for many years to come.” 

As she begins retirement, Campbell knows this award can help fellow researchers at the college make a meaningful impact in a competitive environment that can often be difficult to navigate. 

“Research funding is very competitive, and successes often come from building research in descriptive or correlational studies that lead to intervention development and testing,” said Campbell. “Pilot funding from various sources is often very modest, and it is challenging to make a $5,000 to $10,000 budget sufficient to meet the study aims. I’m hopeful that my award can extend a faculty member’s program of research in a meaningful way.” 

College of Nursing faculty members may learn more about the process to submit research proposals for award consideration by contacting Alisia Taylor from the Office of Health Research at alisiataylor@wayne.edu. Preference will be given to applicants focused on symptom research in a palliative care context.