Research
Dr. Lent's ongoing program of research focuses on obesity treatment and prevention
in children and adults. In 2012, she received the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research
Service Award (NRSA F32 post-doctoral grant) from the National Institutes of Health
to study the impact of social support on weight loss outcomes in bariatric surgery
patients. Currently, her research interests span pediatric obesity treatment, psychosocial
factors in bariatric surgery, school and community-based obesity prevention and treatment
initiatives, “food addiction,” urban consumer food purchasing behaviors and cognitive-behavioral
interventions for adult obesity.
Through the Medical Marijuana Research Program at PCOM, Dr. Lent is studying the use of medical marijuana in individuals with opioid
use disorder and chronic pain, as well how health-related quality of life changes
with the initiation of medical marijuana use for any of the qualifying conditions
in Pennsylvania. Additionally, Dr. Lent recently led a PCORI-funded randomized controlled
trial (RCT) evaluating different psychosocial treatments for opioid use disorder. She is Co-Director of PCOM's SHELTER gun violence program, funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
Grants
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), VIP Grant (46716)
March 2025 – February 2028
Lead Institution: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
“Support and Healing through Empowerment, Learning, and Trauma Education in Recovery
after gun violence (SHELTER)”
Role: Co-PD (Michelle Lent, PhD & Erik Langenau, DO)
Organic Remedies, Inc.
July 2021 – June 2025
Lead Institution: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
“Examining the Incremental Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in Reducing Chronic Pain,
Program Attrition, and Impaired Functioning Among Individuals in Treatment for Opioid
Use Disorder”
Role: Co-PI
Organic Remedies, Inc.
July 2020 – June 2024
Lead Institution: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
“Determinants of Psychosocial and Clinical Outcomes in Medical Cannabis Users”
Role: PI
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
September 2019 – October 2024 (#OBOT-2018C2-13158; Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04257214);
Lead Institution: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
“Identifying Optimal Psychosocial Interventions for Patients Receiving Office-Based
Buprenorphine”
Role: PI; November 2021- present
Co-I; September 2019 – October 2021
Role: PI
Title: "The role of social support in bariatric surgery weight and behavioral outcomes”
Funding Source: NIH
Duration: July 2012 – June 2014
