About the RAD Lab
Dr. Marisa Hilliard’s Resilience And Diabetes (RAD) Behavioral Research Lab conducts behavioral research to learn about and support resilience in young people with type 1 diabetes and their families. Resilient diabetes outcomes include engaging in diabetes self-management behaviors, having good diabetes-related quality of life, and aiming for glycemic outcomes close to the targets, even while managing the challenges of living with diabetes.
The lab’s work includes observational and survey research to understand how different risk and protective factors relate to or predict resilient diabetes outcomes, qualitative interview studies to learn about everyday life experiences with diabetes, studies to develop and evaluate new assessment measures related to these topics, and strengths-based intervention research to help young people and families living with diabetes maximize their strengths and achieve optimal outcomes.
Research in the RAD Behavioral Research Lab spans the pediatric age range, including studies from early childhood to early adulthood, with a focus on transitional periods such as adapting to a new diabetes diagnosis, shifting family diabetes management responsibilities between childhood and adolescence, adjusting to a new medical regimen or device, and transitioning from pediatric to adult care.
Association and Organization Involvement
Dr. Hilliard is also actively involved in professional diabetes organizations and type 1 diabetes family and community groups, including:
- American Diabetes Association
- American Psychological Association Division 54/Society of Pediatric Psychology
- Children With Diabetes, Friends for Life
- College Diabetes Network
- JDRF Houston Gulf Coast Chapter
