Featured Scholars : Anna McDaniel

Professor and Assistant Dean for Research
IU School of Nursing
Professor, IU School of Informatics
amcdanie@iupui.edu

Anna McDaniel is concerned about the burden of nicotine dependence in both human and financial terms. Despite years of scientific evidence on interventions to prevent and treat tobacco addiction, there are still over 45 million smokers in the United States, with 2,000 young people starting to smoke each day.

Dr. McDaniel focuses her research on using technology for cancer prevention and control, specifically the treatment of nicotine dependence. Using interactive technology to deliver theoretically sound health education empowers consumers to adopt a tobacco-free lifestyle. Dr. McDaniel is working with Gabriel Interactive, an Indianapolis computer gaming company, to develop “The Ocean's Secret,” an anti-smoking video game targeted specifically at young girls. The primary outcome is an effective tool for teaching girls about the dangers of smoking while engaging in a safe, fun activity. By playing the game, young girls will discover that they have the power to become stronger, healthier women by remaining smoke-free.

Professor McDaniel's efforts at finding creative and successful ways to help people decide to become free from nicotine addiction is an excellent example of how IUPUI's faculty members are TRANSLATING their RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE.