VCU Health & Development Lab

The VCU Health and Development Lab in the Department of Psychology is directed by Dr. Cecelia Valrie and includes graduate and undergraduate students. Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of people living with sickle cell disease (SCD), and youth and young adults with chronic pain.  We strive to understand the unique risk and protective factors as well as processes that lead to poor health outcomes for these populations, with a focus on pain and sleep. We also partner with various stakeholders (e.g., health care providers, people with SCD, youth and their families) to test, implement, and disseminate interventions. Our work is grounded in health psychology and developmental theories, and uses a mix of methodologies, including surveys, interviews, and mhealth technology (e.g., ecological momentary assessments and wearables) that allows for time-sensitive assessments in the environments people live in.