Arthur H. Owora, PhD, MPH

Translation of data into actionable insights is critical for shared health decision making by patients and clinicians towards improved patient-centered outcomes.

Initiatives

Research Scientist, Clem McDonald Center for Biomedical Informatics, Regenstrief Institute
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, IU School of Medicine
Adjunct Associate Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, IU School of Public Health

Dr. Arthur H. Owora is a translational scientist, applied biostatistician and quantitative epidemiologist. His research focuses on the development, adaptation, and application of statistical and machine learning methods to address health-related questions through the use of systematic and data-driven approaches for understanding the disease etiology, risk, and prognosis. He currently leads NIH funded projects that are developing and evaluating models for the prediction of childhood asthma risk, prognosis, and treatment response. His ongoing collaborations include research on vaccine adherence, aphasia treatment, sexual health, aging, dementia, diabetes, and obesity.

The Translational Informatics, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (TIBE) laboratory led by Dr. Owora applies novel biostatistical and machine learning methodologies to different (structured and unstructured) and multiple data sources (active and passive) to generate analytics and insights to inform effective clinical decision-making at point-of-care.

Dr. Owora received his Ph.D. degree in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from Oklahoma University in 2015. He has over 15 years of experience in research design, methodology, and statistical analysis in bio-medical, socio-behavioral, and health services research.

Throughout his robust teaching career, Dr. Owora has been recognized with several honors and awards. He was appointed to the honorary position of Gallahue Family Professor in Child Development in 2021.

Featured Projects

Developing a Childhood Asthma Risk Passive Digital Marker

K01HL163462 ($648,000)

(12/01/2022-11/30/2026)

Role: Principal Investigator

To develop and determine the usability, acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of a childhood asthma Passive Digital Marker (PDM) for early disease detection. Here, a PDM refers to a ML algorithm that can be used to retrieve and synthesize pre-existing ‘Passively’ collected mother/child dyad prognostic data (i.e., medical history) at ages 0-3 years in ‘Digital’ EHR to provide an objective and quantifiable ‘Marker’ of a child’s asthma risk and phenotype at ages 6-10 years.

Developing a passive digital marker (PDM) for childhood asthma treatment response prediction

R03HS029088 ($99,000)

(08/01/2022-07/31/2024)

Role: Principal Investigator

This project will develop, validate, and evaluate the predictive performance of a childhood asthma Passive Digital Marker for treatment response prediction (PDM-TR), that is, a machine learning algorithm that can retrieve and synthesize pre-existing ‘passively’ collected mother-child dyad risk/prognostic data in ‘digital’ electronic health record (EHR) to provide an objective and quantifiable ‘marker’ of future treatment response.

Digital Detection of Dementia (D3) Studies

R01AG069765 ($5,095,139)

(09/01/2020– 05/31/2025)

Role: Co-investigator / Biostatistician

This project evaluates the predictive performance of two low-cost approaches for the early detection of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias using patient-reported outcome data, and to evaluate the practical utility and effect of the Passive Digital Marker and the Quick Dementia Rating Scale methods in improving the annual rate of new documented ADRD diagnosis in primary care practices.

Gonadal hormones as mediators of sex and gender influences in asthma

R01HL159764 ($2,160,016)

(07/01/2021 – 06/30/2025)

Role: Co-investigator / Biostatistician

Sex and gender disparities in the severity and frequency of asthma exacerbations have been extensively reported, yet the biological and hormonal basis of these differences have not been elucidated. This application will investigate the mechanisms by which estrogen triggers inflammation in the male and female asthmatic lung to determine the molecular basis of hormonal triggers of asthma exacerbations in cis and transgender women and lead to the future development of better personalized therapeutic options for lung disease.

Pharmacotherapy in conjunction with lifestyle counseling for management of weight regain after bariatric surgery (PROJECT-BARI)

R01DK129936 ($537,993)

(07/01/2021 – 06/30/2026)

Role: Co-investigator / Biostatistician

A 12-month, double-blind, RCT to examine the efficacy of anti-obese pharmacotherapy (topiramate and phentermine) on reversing weight regain in subjects with bariatric surgery.

I-CARE 2 RCT: Mobile Telehealth to Reduce Alzheimer’s-related Symptoms for Caregivers and Patients

R01AG078234 ($3, 958,794)

(07/01/2022-06/30/2027)

Role: Co-investigator/ Biostatistician

This randomized clinical trial tests how telehealth technology can positively affect informal caregivers and patients living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The project will gather data over time to measure the impact of our evidence-based Brain CareNotes mobile telehealth app on informal caregiver burden and patients’ behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, in a diverse Indiana-wide sample.

Highlighted Publications

Mar 1, 2023

Modeling the Natural Course of Atopic Multimorbidity: Correlates of Early-Life States and Exposures

Publication: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

doi: 10.1164/rccm.202211-2062LE

Authors: Owora AH

May 30, 2023

Asthma innovations from the first International Collaborative Asthma Network forum

Publication: ERJ Open Research

doi: 10.1183/23120541.00090-2023

Authors: Gaston B, Gardner DD, Mahan K, Akuthota P, Mendonca EA, Durrington H, Marozkina N, Martinez-Nunez RT, Newcomb D, Ainsworth B, Owora AH, Chung KF, Walker S, Fowler SJ, Siddiqui S, Winders T, Zein J, Jarjour N, Huang YJ, Cahill KN, Djukanovic R

May 11, 2023

Anemia in Women with and without Obesity: NHANES 2001-2006

Publication: Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Nutrients

doi: 10.3390/nu15102272

Authors: Aguree S, Owora A, Hawkins M, Reddy MB

May 5, 2023

Development and Temporal Validation of an Electronic Medical Record-Based Insomnia Prediction Model Using Data from a Statewide Health Information Exchange

Publication: Journal of Clinical Medicine

doi: 10.3390/jcm12093286

Authors: Holler E, Chekani F, Ai J, Meng W, Khandker RK, Ben Miled Z, Owora A, Dexter P, Campbell N, Solid C, Boustani M

Apr 11, 2023

Factors associated with choice of behavioural weight loss program by adults with obesity

Publication: Clinical Obesity

doi: 10.1111/cob.12591

Authors: Jamshidi-Naeini Y, Roberts SB, Dickinson S, Owora A, Agley J, Zoh RS, Chen X, Allison DB

Feb 22, 2023

Service Utilization among Persons Who Inject Drugs Attending a Syringe Exchange Program in New York State

Publication: Substance Use & Misuse

doi: 10.1080/10826084.2023.2177965

Authors: Beidelman ET, Parker MA, Zoh RS, Owora AH

Feb 27, 2023

Racial disparities in the pharmacological treatment of insomnia: A time-to-event analysis using real-world data

Publication: Sleep Health

doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2023.02.002

Authors: Holler E, Campbell NL, Boustani M, Dexter P, Ben Miled Z, Owora A

Dec 22, 2022

Randomization, design and analysis for interdependency in aging research: no person or mouse is an island

Publication: Nature Aging

doi: 10.1038/s43587-022-00333-6

Authors: Chusyd DE, Austad SN, Dickinson SL, Ejima K, Gadbury GL, Golzarri-Arroyo L, Holden RJ, Jamshidi-Naeini Y, Landsittel D, Mehta T, Oakes JM, Owora AH, Pavela G, Rojo J, Sandel MW, Smith DL Jr, Vorland CJ, Xun P, Zoh R, Allison DB

Jul 18, 2018

The effect of high-flow nasal oxygen on hospital length of stay in cardiac surgical patients at high risk for respiratory complications: a randomised controlled trial

Publication: Anaesthesia

doi: 10.1111/anae.14345

Authors: Zochios V, Collier T, Blaudszun G, Butchart A, Earwaker M, Jones N, Klein AA

Oct 11, 2022

Digital detection of dementia (D3): a study protocol for a pragmatic cluster-randomized trial examining the application of patient-reported outcomes and passive clinical decision support systems

Publication: Trials

doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06809-5

Authors: Kleiman MJ, Plewes AD, Owora A, Grout RW, Dexter PR, Fowler NR, Galvin JE, Miled ZB, Boustani M

Jul 4, 2022

Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Individuals with Excess Weight: Weight Trajectory Effects

Publication: Current Diabetes Reports

doi: 10.1007/s11892-022-01486-9

Authors: Owora AH, Allison DB, Zhang X, Gletsu-Miller N, Gadde KM

Jun 20, 2022

Impact of time-varying confounders on the association between early-life allergy sensitization and the risk of current asthma: A post hoc analysis of a birth cohort

Publication: Allergy

doi: 10.1111/all.15403

Authors: Owora AH, Li R, Tepper RS, Ramsey CD, Chan-Yeung M, Watson WTA, Becker AB

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Arthur H. Owora, PhD, MPH

Featured Projects

Highlighted Publications