Population and Community Health Sciences Branch

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en">  <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">  <link href="/assets/bootstrap/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="/css/style.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="/assets/css/style-addition.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="/css/print.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="/css/basictable.css" rel="stylesheet"> <noscript> <link href="/css/noscript.css" rel="stylesheet"> </noscript>   <meta name="description" content="Conducts community-engaged, multidisciplinary research to reduce health disparities and improve health of populations experiencing health disparities."> <title>Population and Community Health Sciences Branch</title>   <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="Population and Community Health Sciences Branch"> <meta name="twitter:title" content="https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/programs/intramural/pchs/"> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Conducts community-engaged, multidisciplinary research to reduce health disparities and improve health of populations experiencing health disparities."> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/images/social_media/nimhdLogo_metadata.png"> <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="NIH NIMHD logo, advancing the science of minority health and health disparities">   <meta property="og:title" content="Population and Community Health Sciences Branch" /> <meta property="og:type" content="website" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/programs/intramural/pchs/"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/images/social_media/nimhdLogo_metadata.png" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1200" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="630" /> <meta property="og:description" content="NIMHD's Intramural research programs include population and community health sciences." /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="NIMHD" /> </head> <body>   <noscript> <iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-P6R3N8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden" sandbox></iframe> </noscript> <script> (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= '//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-P6R3N8'); </script>   <div class="container" id="fluid-container"> <div id="grey-bar"> <ul class="col-lg-12"> <li> <img src="/assets/img/hhs-logo.png" alt="HHS Logo" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto;"> <a href="https://www.hhs.gov" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Opens in a new tab">U.S. Department of Health & Human Services »</a> </li> <li> <img src="/assets/img/nih-ribbon-logo.png" alt="NIH Logo"><a href="https://www.nih.gov" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">National Institutes of Health »</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="d-none d-lg-block white-bkg"> <div class="top-header row"> <div class="col-lg-4 col-md-4"> <a class="gtm-header-home" href="/"> <img src="/assets/img/web-logo.png" alt="National Institutes of Minority Health and Disparities" class="img-fluid logo"> </a> </div> <div class="col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-lg-offset-2 col-md-offset-2 header-social-media"> <ul> <li> <a class="gtm-header-social" href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIHNIMHD/subscriber/new" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="/assets/img/newsletter_sml.png" title="Email Subscription" alt="link to sign up for NIMHD email updates"></a> </li> <li> <a class="gtm-header-social" href="/contact/"><img src="/assets/img/contact_sml.png" title="Contact Us" alt="link to contact us page"></a> </li> <li> <a class="gtm-header-social" href="https://www.facebook.com/NIMHD" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="/assets/img/facebook_sml.png" title="Facebook" alt="link to NIMHD facebook page "></a> </li> <li> <a class="gtm-header-social" href="https://twitter.com/NIMHD" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="/assets/img/icon_X_header.png" title="X" alt="X logo icon"></a> </li> <li> <a class="gtm-header-social" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/nimhd-nih/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="/assets/img/linkedin_sml.png" title="Linkedin" alt="link to NIMHD Linkedin page"></a> </li> <li> <a class="gtm-header-social" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC24wExXe2ynSniF-iKYTQaw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="/assets/img/youtube_sml.png" title="Youtube" alt="link to NIMHD youtube page"></a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <div id="mainNav" class="navbar navbar-expand navbar-default yamm d-none d-lg-block py-0"> <div id="navbar-collapse-grid" class="navbar-collapse collapse"> <ul class="nav navbar-nav"> <li class="dropdown yamm-fw col-md-2 no-gutter"> <a href="/about/" data-toggle="dropdown" class="gtm-topnav dropdown-toggle">About <b class="hidden-lg hidden-md glyphicon glyphicon-menu-down"></b> </a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li class="grid-demo" style="min-height: 397px"> <div class="menu-group media-body"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/about/overview/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Overview <span class="hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <img src="/assets/img/nav-arrow.png" alt=""> </span> </a> </div> <div class="level-three first-level-three"> <ul> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/overview/mission-vision.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Mission and Vision</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/overview/scientific-advancement.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Scientific Advancement Plan</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/overview/science-visioning/" class="gtm-topnav-2">Science Visioning</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/overview/research-framework/" class="gtm-topnav-2">Research Framework</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/resources/understanding-health-disparities/minority-health-and-health-disparities-definitions.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Minority Health and Health Disparities Definitions</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/overview/org-structure/" class="gtm-topnav-2">Organizational Structure</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/overview/staff-directory.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Staff Directory</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/overview/history/" class="gtm-topnav-2">History</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/about/directors-corner/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Director's Corner <span class="hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <img src="/assets/img/nav-arrow.png" alt=""> </span> </a> </div> <div class="level-three"> <ul> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/directors-corner/about.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">About the Director</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/directors-corner/message.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Director’s Messages</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/directors-corner/news.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">News Mentions</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/directors-corner/presentations.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Presentations</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/directors-corner/pubs.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Selected Publications</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/directors-corner/laboratory.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Director's Laboratory</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/about/legislative-info/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Legislative Information <span class="hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <img src="/assets/img/nav-arrow.png" alt=""> </span> </a> </div> <div class="level-three"> <ul> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/legislative-info/congress-justification.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Congressional Justification</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/legislative-info/congress-testimony.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Congressional Testimony</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/about/legislative-info/legislative-history.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Legislative History</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group media-body"> <div class="level-two"> <a class="gtm-topnav-1" href="/about/strategic-plan/">Strategic Plan <span class="hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <img src="/assets/img/nav-arrow.png" alt=""> </span> </a> </div> <div class="level-three ">  <ul class="double double-border" style="height: 100%"> <li class="li-left-padding"><a class="gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-directors-foreword.html">NIH Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan 2021-2025</a></li> <li class="li-left-padding" style="margin-top: -3px;"><a class="gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-definitions-and-parameters.html">Minority Health and Health Disparities: Definitions and Parameters</a></li> <li class="li-left-padding" style="margin-top: -1px;"><a class="gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-nih-and-hhs-commitment.html">NIH and HHS Commitment</a></li> <li class="li-left-padding"><a class="gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-foundation-for-planning.html">Foundation for Planning</a></li> <li class="li-left-padding"><a class="gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-structure.html">Structure of This Plan</a></li> <li class="li-left-padding"><a class="gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-categories.html">Strategic Plan Categories</a></li> </ul> <ul class="double"> <li><a class="gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-summary-of-categories-and-goals.html">Summary of Categories and Goals</a></li> <li><a class="gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-scientific-goals-research-strategies-priority-areas.html">Scientific Goals, Research Strategies, and Priority Areas</a></li> <li><a class="gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-research-sustaining-activities.html">Research-Sustaining Activities: Goals, Strategies, and Priority Areas</a></li> <li><a class="gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-outreach-collaboration-dissemination.html">Outreach, Collaboration, and Dissemination: Goals and Strategies</a></li> <li><a class="gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-leap-forward-research-challenge.html">Leap Forward Research Challenge</a></li> <li><a class="gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-future-plans.html">Future Plans</a></li> </ul> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/about/10-year-anniversary/" class="gtm-topnav-1">NIMHD Celebrates Its 10 Year Anniversary</a> </div> <div class="level-three"> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/about/publications/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Publications</a> </div> <div class="level-three"> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/about/advisory-council/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Advisory Council</a> </div> <div class="level-three"> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/about/honors/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Honors</a> </div> <div class="level-three"> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two" style="margin-top: 1px;"> <a href="/about/employment.html" class="gtm-topnav-1">Employment Opportunities</a> </div> <div class="level-three"> </div> </div>  </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown yamm-fw col-md-2 no-gutter"> <a href="/programs/" data-toggle="dropdown" class="gtm-topnav dropdown-toggle">Programs <b class="hidden-lg hidden-md glyphicon glyphicon-menu-down"></b> </a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li class="grid-demo" style="min-height: 370px"> <div class="menu-group media-body"> <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/programs/extramural/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Extramural Research <span class="hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <img src="/assets/img/nav-arrow.png" alt="" /> </span> </a> </div> <div class="level-three first-level-three"> <ul class="double double-border"> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/extramural/research-areas/" class="gtm-topnav-2">Research Interest Areas</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/extramural/research-centers/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Research Centers</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/extramural/research-endowment.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Research Endowment</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/extramural/community-based-participatory.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Community Based Participatory Research Program (CBPR)</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/extramural/sbir-sttr.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">SBIR/STTR: Small Business Innovation/Tech Transfer</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/extramural/investigator-initiated-research/" class="gtm-topnav-2">Solicited and Investigator-Initiated Research Project Grants</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/extramural/scientific-conferences.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Scientific Conferences</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="double"> <li> <a href="/programs/extramural/training-career-dev/" class="gtm-topnav-2">Training and Career Development</a> </li> <li><a href="/programs/extramural/loan-repayment.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Loan Repayment Program (LRP)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/extramural/data-management-sharing.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Data Management and Sharing</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/programs/intramural/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Intramural Research <span class="hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <img src="/assets/img/nav-arrow.png" alt="" /> </span> </a> </div> <div class="level-three"> <ul> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/intramural/social-behavioral/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Social and Behavioral Sciences</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/intramural/pchs/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Population and Community Health Sciences</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/intramural/genomic-epidemiology/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Epidemiology and Genetics</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/intramural/mrsp.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP)</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/intramural/research-innovation-award/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Coleman Research Innovation Award</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/intramural/hdig/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Health Disparities Interest Group</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/programs/nhpi/" class="gtm-topnav-1">NHPI Health Research Office </a> </div> <div class="level-three"> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/programs/collab/" class="gtm-topnav-1">NIMHD Collaborations</a> </div> <div class="level-three"> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/programs/edu-training/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Education and Outreach <span class="hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <img src="/assets/img/nav-arrow.png" alt=""> </span> </a> </div> <div class="level-three"> <ul class="double double-border" style="height: 100%">  <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/edu-training/breathe-better/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Breathe Better Network</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/edu-training/healthy-hearts/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Healthy Hearts Network</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/edu-training/debut/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">DEBUT Challenge</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/edu-training/hmi/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Healthy Mind Initiative</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/programs/edu-training/mental-health-essay-contest/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Mental Health Essay Contest</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="double"> <li> <a href="/programs/edu-training/fuelup60/" class="gtm-topnav-2">Fuel Up to Play 60 en Español</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/edu-training/byomm/" class="gtm-topnav-2">Brother, You're on My Mind</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/edu-training/nmhm/" class="gtm-topnav-2">Celebrating National Minority Health Month</a> </li>  </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/programs/covid-19/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-1">COVID-19 Information and Resources</a> </div> <div class="level-three"> </div> </div>  </li> </ul> </li>  <li class="dropdown yamm-right funding-opp-menu col-md-3 no-gutter"> <a href="/funding/nimhd-funding/" data-toggle="dropdown" class="gtm-topnav dropdown-toggle">Funding Opportunities <b class="hidden-lg hidden-md glyphicon glyphicon-menu-down"></b> </a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li class="grid-demo"> <div class="menu-group media-body"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/funding/nimhd-funding" class="gtm-topnav-1">NIMHD Funding Opportunities <span class="hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <img src="/assets/img/nav-arrow.png" alt="" /> </span> </a> </div> <div class="level-three first-level-three"> <ul> <li class="li-left-padding"><a href="/funding/nimhd-funding/funding-strategy.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Funding Strategy</a></li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/funding/nimhd-funding/active_foa.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Active Funding Opportunities</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/funding/nimhd-funding/expired_foa.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Expired Funding Opportunities</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/funding/nimhd-funding/notices.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Notices</a> </li> <li class="li-left-padding"> <a href="/funding/nimhd-funding/webinars.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Technical Assistance Webinars</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/funding/approved-concepts/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-1">Approved Research Concepts </a> </div> <div class="level-three"> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/funding/nih.html" class="gtm-topnav-1">NIH Funding Opportunities</a> </div> <div class="level-three"> </div> </div>  </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown yamm-right col-md-3 no-gutter"> <a href="/news-events/" data-toggle="dropdown" class="gtm-topnav dropdown-toggle">News and Events <b class="hidden-lg hidden-md glyphicon glyphicon-menu-down"></b> </a> <ul class="dropdown-menu dropdown-menu-right"> <li class="grid-demo"> <div class="menu-group media-body"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/news-events/news-releases/" class="gtm-topnav-1"> <span class="hidden-sm hidden-xs"> </span>News Releases</a> </div> <div class="level-three first-level-three"> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/news-events/in-the-news" class="gtm-topnav-1"> <span class="hidden-sm hidden-xs"> </span>NIMHD in the News</a> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/news-events/conferences-events" class="gtm-topnav-1">Conferences and Events</a> </div> <div class="level-three"> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/news-events/features" class="gtm-topnav-1"> <span class="hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <img src="/assets/img/nav-arrow-l.png" alt="" /> </span>Features</a> </div> <div class="level-three"> <ul> <li class="li-right-padding"> <a href="/news-events/features/community-health/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Community Health and Population Sciences</a> </li> <li class="li-right-padding"> <a href="/news-events/features/clinical-health-services/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Clinical and Health Services Research</a> </li> <li class="li-right-padding"> <a href="/news-events/features/biological-behavioral-siences/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Integrative Biological and Behavioral Sciences</a> </li> <li class="li-right-padding"> <a href="/news-events/features/intramural-research/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Intramural Research Program</a> </li> <li class="li-right-padding"> <a href="/news-events/features/training-workforce-dev/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Training and Workforce Development</a> </li> <li class="li-right-padding"> <a href="/news-events/features/inside-nimhd/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Inside NIMHD</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="https://blog.nimhd.nih.gov" class="gtm-topnav-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Blog</a> </div> <div class="level-three"> </div> </div> <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/news-events/research-spotlights/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Research Spotlights</a> </div> <div class="level-three"> </div> </div> <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/news-events/enewsletters/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-1">e-Newsletter</a> </div> <div class="level-three"> </div> </div>  </li> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown yamm-right col-md-2 no-gutter"> <a href="/resources/" data-toggle="dropdown" class="gtm-topnav dropdown-toggle">Resources</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu dropdown-menu-right second"> <li class="grid-demo" style="min-height: 440px"> <div class="menu-group media-body"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/resources/schare/" class="gtm-topnav-1">ScHARe</a> </div> </div> <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/resources/hd-pulse.html" class="gtm-topnav-1">HDPulse</a> </div> </div> <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/resources/phenx/" class="gtm-topnav-1">PhenX SDOH Toolkit</a> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/resources/understanding-health-disparities/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Understanding Health Disparities</a> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/resources/applicants.html" class="gtm-topnav-1">For Research Applicants</a> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/resources/grantees.html" class="gtm-topnav-1">For Research Grantees</a> </div> </div>   <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/resources/reports-data.html" class="gtm-topnav-1">Reports and Data Resources</a> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group media-body"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/resources/health-info.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Health Information for the Public</a> </div> </div>  <div class="menu-group"> <div class="level-two"> <a href="/resources/science-edu.html" class="gtm-topnav-2">Science Education</a> </div> </div>  </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>  <nav id="mobileNav" class="navbar navbar-default d-block d-lg-none"> <div class="navbar-header"> <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle collapsed" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#menu" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="menu"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="text">menu</span> </button> <a class="navbar-brand gtm-header-home" href="/"> <img src="/assets/img/logo.png" alt="National Institutes of Miniority Health and Disparities" class="mobile-logo img-fluid"> </a> </div> <div id="menu" class="slinky-menu collapse"> <ul> <li> <a href="#">About</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/about/" class="gtm-topnav">About</a> </li> <li> <a href="#" class="child">Overview</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/about/overview/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Overview</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/overview/mission-visioning.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Mission and Vision</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/overview/scientific-advancement.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Scientific Advancement Plan</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/overview/science-visioning/" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Science Visioning</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/overview/research-framework/" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Research Framework</a> </li> <li> <a href="/resources/understanding-health-disparities/minority-health-and-health-disparities-definitions.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Minority Health and Health Disparities Definitions</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/overview/org-structure/" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Organizational Structure</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/overview/staff-directory.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Staff Directory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/overview/history/" class="child gtm-topnav-2">History</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="#" class="child">Director's Corner</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/about/directors-corner/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Director's Corner</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/directors-corner/about.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">About the Director</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/directors-corner/message.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Director's Messages</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/directors-corner/news.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">News Mentions</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/directors-corner/presentations.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Presentations</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/directors-corner/pubs.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Selected Publications</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/directors-corner/laboratory.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Director's Laboratory</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="#" class="child">Legislative Information</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/about/legislative-info/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Legislative Information</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/legislative-info/congress-justification.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Congressional Justification</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/legislative-info/congress-testimony.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Congessional Testimony</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/legislative-info/legislative-history.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Legislative History</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a class="child gtm-topnav-2" href="#" class="child">Strategic Plan</a> <ul> <li> <a class="child gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Strategic Plan</a> </li> <li><a class="child gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-directors-foreword.html">NIH Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan 2021-2025</a></li> <li><a class="child gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-definitions-and-parameters.html">Minority Health and Health Disparities: Definitions and Parameters</a></li> <li><a class="child gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-nih-and-hhs-commitment.html">NIH and HHS Commitment</a></li> <li><a class="child gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-foundation-for-planning.html">Foundation for Planning</a></li> <li><a class="child gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-structure.html">Structure of This Plan</a></li> <li><a class="child gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-categories.html">Strategic Plan Categories</a></li> <li><a class="child gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-summary-of-categories-and-goals.html">Summary of Categories and Goals</a></li> <li><a class="child gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-scientific-goals-research-strategies-priority-areas.html">Scientific Goals, Research Strategies, and Priority Areas</a></li> <li><a class="child gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-research-sustaining-activities.html">Research-Sustaining Activities: Goals, Strategies, and Priority Areas</a></li> <li><a class="child gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-outreach-collaboration-dissemination.html">Outreach, Collaboration, and Dissemination: Goals and Strategies</a></li> <li><a class="child gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-leap-forward-research-challenge.html">Leap Forward Research Challenge</a></li> <li><a class="child gtm-topnav-2" href="/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-future-plans.html">Future Plans</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="/about/10-year-anniversary/" class="child gtm-topnav-1">NIMHD Celebrates Its 10 Year Anniversary</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/publications/" class="child gtm-topnav-1">Publications</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/advisory-council/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-1">Advisory Council</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/honors/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-1">Honors</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/employment.html" class="child gtm-topnav-1">Employment Opportunities</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="#">Programs</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/programs/" class="gtm-topnav">Programs</a> </li> <li> <a href="#" class="child">Extramural Research</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/programs/extramural/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Extramural Research</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/extramural/research-areas/" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Research Interest Areas</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/extramural/research-centers/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Research Centers</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/extramural/research-endowment.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Research Endowment</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/extramural/community-based-participatory.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Community Based Participatory Research Program (CBPR)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/extramural/sbir-sttr.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">SBIR/STTR: Small Business Innovation/Tech Transfer</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/extramural/investigator-initiated-research/" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Solicited and Investigator-Initiated Research Project Grants</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/extramural/scientific-conferences.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Scientific Conferences</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/extramural/training-career-dev/" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Training and Career Development</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/extramural/loan-repayment.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Loan Repayment Program (LRP)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/extramural/data-management-sharing.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Data Management and Sharing</a> </li> <li> <a href="#menu" class="top btn">Top of Menu</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="#" class="child">Intramural Research</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/programs/intramural/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Intramural Research</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/intramural/social-behavioral/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Social and Behavioral Sciences</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/intramural/pchs/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Population and Community Health Sciences</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/intramural/genomic-epidemiology/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Epidemiology and Genetics</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/intramural/mrsp.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/intramural/research-innovation-award/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Coleman Research Innovation Award</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/intramural/hdig/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Health Disparities Interest Group</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/nhpi/" class="child gtm-topnav-1">NHPI Health Research Office</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/collab/" class="child gtm-topnav-1">NIMHD Collaborations</a> </li> <li> <a href="#" class="child">Education and Outreach</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/programs/edu-training/index.html" class="gtm-topnav-1">Education and Outreach</a> </li>  <li> <a href="/programs/edu-training/breathe-better/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Breathe Better Network</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/edu-training/healthy-hearts/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Healthy Hearts Network</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/edu-training/debut/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">DEBUT Challenge</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/edu-training/hmi/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Healthy Mind Initiative</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/edu-training/mental-health-essay-contest/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Mental Health Essay Contest</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/edu-training/fuelup60/" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Fuel Up to Play 60 en Español</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/edu-training/byomm/" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Brother, You're on My Mind</a> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/edu-training/nmhm/" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Celebrating National Minority Health Month</a> </li>  </ul> </li> <li> <a href="/programs/covid-19/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-1">COVID-19 Information and Resources</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="#">Funding Opportunities</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/funding/nimhd-funding/" class="gtm-topnav">Funding Opportunities</a> </li> <li> <a href="#" class="child">NIMHD Funding Opportunities</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/funding/nimhd-funding/" class="gtm-topnav-1">NIMHD Funding Opportunities</a> </li> <li> <a href="/funding/nimhd-funding/funding-strategy.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Funding Strategy</a> </li> <li> <a href="/funding/nimhd-funding/active_foa.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Active Funding Opportunities</a> </li> <li> <a href="/funding/nimhd-funding/expired_foa.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Expired Funding Opportunities</a> </li> <li> <a href="/funding/nimhd-funding/notices.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Notices</a> </li> <li> <a href="/funding/nimhd-funding/webinars.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Technical Assistance Webinars</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="/funding/approved-concepts/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-1">Approved Research Concepts</a> </li> <li> <a href="/funding/nih.html" class="child gtm-topnav-1">NIH Funding Opportunities</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="#">News and Events</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/news-events/" class="gtm-topnav">News and Events</a> </li> <li> <a href="#" class="child">News Releases</a> </li> <li> <a href="#" class="child">NIMHD in the News</a> </li> <li> <a href="/news-events/conferences-events/" class="child gtm-topnav-1">Conferences & Events</a> </li> <li> <a href="#" class="child">Features</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/news-events/features/" class="gtm-topnav-1">Features</a> </li> <li> <a href="/news-events/features/community-health/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Community Health and Population Sciences</a> </li> <li> <a href="/news-events/features/clinical-health-services/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Clinical and Health Services Research</a> </li> <li> <a href="/news-events/features/biological-behavioral-siences/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Integrative Biological and Behavioral Sciences</a> </li> <li> <a href="/news-events/features/intramural-research/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Intramural Research Program</a> </li> <li> <a href="/news-events/features/training-workforce-dev/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Training and Diverse Workforce Development</a> </li> <li> <a href="/news-events/features/inside-nimhd/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-2">Inside NIMHD</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="http://nimhd.blogs.govdelivery.com/" class="child gtm-topnav-1">Blog</a> </li> <li> <a href="/news-events/research-spotlights/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-1">Research Spotlights</a> </li> <li> <a href="/news-events/enewsletters/index.html" class="child gtm-topnav-1">e-Newsletter</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="#">Resources</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/resources/" class="gtm-topnav">Resources</a> </li> <li> <a href="/resources/schare/" class="child gtm-topnav-1">ScHARe</a> </li> <li> <a href="/resources/hd-pulse.html" class="child gtm-topnav-1">HDPulse</a> </li> <li> <a href="/resources/phenx/" class="child gtm-topnav-1">PhenX SDOH Toolkit</a> </li> <li> <a href="/resources/understanding-health-disparities/" class="child gtm-topnav-1">Understanding Health Disparities</a> </li> <li> <a href="/resources/applicants.html" class="child gtm-topnav-1">For Research Applicants</a> </li> <li> <a href="/resources/grantees.html" class="child gtm-topnav-1">For Research Grantees</a> </li> <li> <a href="/resources/reports-data.html" class="child gtm-topnav-1">Reports and Data Resources</a> </li> <li> <a href="/resources/health-info.html" class="child gtm-topnav-1">Health Information for the Public</a> </li> <li> <a href="/resources/science-edu.html" class="child gtm-topnav-1">Science Education</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div>  </nav>  <div class="container"> <form accept-charset="UTF-8" action="https://search.usa.gov/search" id="search_form" method="get"><div style="margin:0;padding:0;display:inline"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓" /></div> <input id="affiliate" name="affiliate" type="hidden" value="nimhd" /> <label for="query">Enter search</label> <input autocomplete="off" class="usagov-search-autocomplete" id="query" name="query" type="text" placeholder="What can we help you find?" /> <button class="btn btn-default gtm-search" type="submit"><img src="/assets/img/search.png" alt=" "></button> </form>   <div class="container p-0"> <ul class="breadcrumbs"> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/programs/">Programs</a></li> <li><a href="/programs/intramural/">NIMHD Intramural Research Program</a></li> <li><a href="/programs/intramural/pchs/">Population and Community Health Sciences Branch</a></li> </ul> </div>  <div class="row home"> <div class="col-lg-3 col-md-3 col-sm-12 col-12 hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <div class="side-nav box-shadow"> <ul> <li><a href="/programs/extramural/">Extramural Research</a></li> <li><a href="/programs/intramural/">Intramural Research</a> <ul class="children"> <li><a href="/programs/intramural/social-behavioral/index.html">Social and Behavioral Sciences</a></li> <li><a href="/programs/intramural/pchs/index.html">Population and Community Health Sciences</a></li> <li><a href="/programs/intramural/genomic-epidemiology/index.html">Epidemiology and Genetics</a></li> <li><a href="/programs/intramural/mrsp/">Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP)</a></li> <li><a href="/programs/intramural/research-innovation-award/index.html">Coleman Research Innovation Award</a></li> <li><a href="/programs/intramural/hdig/index.html">Health Disparities Interest Group</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="/programs/nhpi/">NHPI Health Research Office</a></li> <li><a href="/programs/collab/">NIMHD Collaborations</a></li> <li><a href="/programs/edu-training/">Education and Outreach</a></li> <li><a href="/programs/covid-19/">COVID-19 Information and Resources</a></li>  </ul> </div>  </div>  <div class="col-lg-9 col-md-9 col-sm-12 col-12"> <div class="main-content box-shadow secondary"> <div class="body-content">  <h1>Population and Community Health Sciences Branch</h1> <p>Research to understand mechanisms that produce health disparities or differentially act to increase or reduce risk of disease and disability among populations experiencing health disparities is critical to improve our nation’s health. For substantial progress in this area, populations experiencing health disparities need opportunities to engage in research that seeks to improve their health.</p> <p>The Population and Community Health Sciences (PCHS) branch conducts multidisciplinary population-level and community-based research that examines social, cultural, clinical, biological, behavioral, and contextual factors and their effects on the health of populations experiencing health disparities. PCHS plans and conducts community-engaged social and behavioral intervention research to reduce health disparities and improve the health and well-being of these populations.</p> <h2>Acting Head</h2> <p>Vacant</p> <div class="panel-group nimhd-accordion-group" id="accordion" role="tablist" aria-multiselectable="true"> <div class="panel-nimhd"><h2>Investigators</h2> <a href="#collapse1" role="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#collapse1" data-bs-parent="#accordion" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapse1" tabindex="0" class="accordion-trigger collapsed"> <div class="panel-heading"> <h2 role="tab"> Shannon N. Zenk, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N., FAAN<br> Director, NINR and Adjunct Investigator<br> Neighborhoods and Health Lab </h2> <span class="icon"></span> </div> </a> <div id="collapse1" class="panel-collapse collapse" role="tabpanel"> <div class="panel-body"> <p><strong><a href="/about/overview/staff-directory/zenk.html">Dr. Shannon N. Zenk staff profile</a></strong> | <strong><a href="/about/overview/staff-directory.html#neighborhoodsLab">Lab members</a></strong></p> <h3>Scientific Expertise</h3> <p>Neighborhoods, activity space, food and built environments, spatiotemporal methodologies, intensive longitudinal analyses, health disparities, environmental exposures, nutrition, physical activity</p> <h3>Research and Programmatic Interests</h3> <p>Interests include examining the role of environmental exposures in health disparities; specifically, conducting observational and intervention research projects with a goal of identifying effective approaches and informing policy to improve health and eliminate health disparities. Research projects conducted by Dr. Zenk’s lab use a contextual and spatial lens to analyze data on community environments as well as examine impacts of these exposures on health and health behaviors.</p> <h3>Research Projects</h3> <p><strong>UrbanHEAT</strong></p> <p>Increases in urban heat have been shown in observational data and are predicted to get more extreme.</p> <p>Research has shown that urban neighborhoods experience higher temperatures, largely related to fewer resources, such as parks, street trees, and cooling street construction materials. In addition, residents move throughout urban spaces over the course of days, weeks, and seasons, and those movements have rarely been accounted for in exposure studies. Several heat-health research studies have measured exposure at the macro level and thus fail to account for variability in exposure within and between persons across time.</p> <p>We are collecting data using wearable monitors, ecological momentary assessment surveys, and environmental modeling to understand the role of heat exposures in health behaviors and outcomes at individual and community levels.</p> <p><strong>SchoolHEAT</strong></p> <p>School environments are critical for children’s physical activity and learning and have health-relevant impacts on diet, sleep, and mental health. This project synthesizes several different data sources, including school catchment areas and satellite imagery, to analyze heat exposure at elementary schools across the 48 contiguous U.S. states and the District of Columbia.</p> <p><strong>Intramural and Extramural Collaborations</strong></p> <p>We collaborate with a wide variety of research groups (e.g., Socio-Spatial Determinants of Health Laboratory, Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism, Jackson Heart Study) contributing expertise on environmental measurement and interpretation.</p> <h3>Kelly K. Jones, Ph.D., R.N.<br> Geospatial Health Data Analyst </h3> <p><strong><a href="/about/overview/staff-directory/jones_k.html">Dr. Kelly K. Jones staff profile</a></strong></p> <h4>Scientific Expertise</h4> <p>Neighborhoods, environmental exposure, spatial analysis, measurement</p> <h4>Research and Programmatic Interests</h4> <p>Primary scientific interest is the measurement of environmental exposure for use in behavioral research. Dr. Jones has expertise in both static and dynamic environments and draws on data ranging from satellite to municipal records. The goal of this research is to reduce health disparities and build healthy urban environments.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-nimhd"> <a href="#collapse3" role="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#collapse3" data-bs-parent="#accordion" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapse3" tabindex="0" class="accordion-trigger collapsed"> <div class="panel-heading"> <h2 role="tab"> Sherine El-Toukhy, Ph.D., M.A.<br> Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator<br> Digital Health and Health Disparities Lab </h2> <span class="icon"></span> </div> </a> <div id="collapse3" class="panel-collapse collapse" role="tabpanel"> <div class="panel-body"> <p><strong><a href="/about/overview/staff-directory/el-toukhy.html">Dr. Sherine El-Toukhy staff profile</a></strong> | <strong><a href="/about/overview/staff-directory.html#digitalLab">Lab members</a></strong></p> <h3>Scientific Expertise</h3> <p>Digital health, mobile health (mHealth), health disparities, behavior change, health communication</p> <h3>Research and Programmatic Interests</h3> <p>Interests include leveraging digital technologies (e.g., mobile and wearable devices) to improve minority health and reduce health disparities. Specifically, Dr. El-Toukhy conducts epidemiologic, (bio)behavioral, and clinical research to examine disparities in access and use of digital technologies; designs and evaluates mHealth interventions, particularly smoking cessation interventions; and identifies ways that digital technologies can inform health and medical care.</p> <h3>Research Projects</h3> <p><strong>Smokefree.gov: Text-Messaging Smoking Cessation Interventions</strong></p> <p>The lab examines retention, engagement, and abstinence outcomes among users of Smokefree.gov text messaging interventions by race and ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Smokefree.gov consists of U.S. national text-messaging smoking cessation interventions that are publicly available through the National Cancer Institute’s Smokefree.gov Initiative. The lab examines these outcomes in SmokefreeTXT to target the general population of smokers, SmokefreeTeens that targets adolescent smokers, SmokefreeMom that targets pregnant women who smoke, and SmokefreeTXT en Español that targets Hispanic/Latino smokers.</p> <p><strong>QuitGuide: mHealth Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) for Smoking Cessation</strong></p> <p>The lab engineers and assesses the efficacy of an mHealth smoking cessation intervention targeting young adult smokers with low socioeconomic status using the National Cancer Institute’s QuitGuide mobile application. To develop and evaluate the intervention, we conduct a series of studies including:</p> <ul> <li>Formative studies to determine the acceptability of new intervention components and the feasibility of recruiting young smokers with low socioeconomic status.</li> <li>A proof-of-concept study to determine if the intervention produces a meaningful effect on smoking cessation.</li> <li>An optimization experiment to determine the main and interactive effects of intervention components followed by a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the optimized intervention against standard care.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Electronic Health Records (EHR): Auto Screen and Referral of Populations at High Risk</strong></p> <p>To increase the uptake of digital behavioral change interventions, the lab determines the acceptability, feasibility, and reach of an EHR-based auto screen and referral electronic text messaging system that refers adults who smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol at risky levels to behavioral change mobile applications.</p> <p>Individuals at high risk are identified through available data in the EHRs. The central hypothesis is that using EHRs to promote mobile applications for behavior modification will produce a clinically meaningful increase in the proportion of a hospital’s patients at high risk who click on a link to behavioral change mobile apps in an auto-referral text message.</p> <p><strong>Wearable Devices: Remote Monitoring of Health Conditions</strong></p> <p>The lab uses wearable devices to collect physiological data to demonstrate the potential of wearable devices as diagnostic and monitoring health tools that can inform health and medical care.</p> <p>In one study, the lab identifies wearable-based biometrics (e.g., heart rate, respiratory rate) that are associated with long COVID-19 in a cohort of 550 non-hospitalized patients with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.</p> <p>In another study, the lab evaluates sleep-time blood pressure, measured via a wrist-worn wearable device, as a clinically significant and independent marker of chronic kidney disease in a cohort of 200 patients with chronic kidney disease.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-nimhd"> <a href="#collapse4" role="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#collapse4" data-bs-parent="#accordion" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapse4" tabindex="0" class="accordion-trigger collapsed"> <div class="panel-heading"> <h2 role="tab"> Faustine Williams, Ph.D., M.A., M.S.<br> Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator<br> Immigrant Health and Health Disparities Lab </h2> <span class="icon"></span> </div> </a> <div id="collapse4" class="panel-collapse collapse" role="tabpanel"> <div class="panel-body"> <p><strong><a href="/about/overview/staff-directory/williams_f.html">Dr. Faustine Williams staff profile</a></strong> | <strong><a href="/about/overview/staff-directory.html#immigrantHealthLab">Lab members</a></strong></p> <h3>Scientific Expertise</h3> <p>Immigrant health, acculturative stress, anxiety, depression, psychological distress, mental health, mental well-being, health disparities</p> <h3>Research and Programmatic Interests</h3> <p>Interests focus on using transdisciplinary measures, such as community-based systems dynamics, to understand and disentangle the dynamic complexity underlying acculturative stress and mental well-being. Dr. Williams’ research goals are to conduct epidemiologic, behavioral, and clinical research to:</p> <ul> <li>Identify the individual, contextual, and structural factors influencing the mental health and mental well-being of immigrants.</li> <li>Disentangle the interplay of multiple factors and mechanisms that contribute to mental health disparities and support protective cultural practices among immigrant populations.</li> <li>Develop and implement culturally appropriate intervention(s) to improve mental health outcomes for immigrant populations in the United States.</li> </ul> <h3>Research Projects</h3> <p><strong>Secondary Data Analyses: Trends in Mental Health Disparities Among U.S. Adults and the Intersections of Race and Sex</strong></p> <p>Using the National Health Interview Survey, the lab is investigating trends in anxiety, depression, and psychological distress among U.S.-born and foreign-born adults, considering the intersections of race and sex. Similarly, using the National Survey on Children’s Health, the lab is examining trends in mental health outcomes, such as adverse childhood experiences and behavioral disorders, among children based on nativity and generational status.</p> <p>The goal of these analyses is to broaden our understanding of the burden of mental health outcomes and to identify subpopulations at risk, with the potential to identify targeted interventions aimed at reducing mental health disparities.</p> <p><strong>Acculturation and Social Determinants Influencing Immigrant Mental Health</strong></p> <p>Using the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III) the lab is assessing:</p> <ul> <li>The effect of discrimination and acculturative stress on cultural identity of immigrants living in the United States.</li> <li>How discrimination and acculturative stress impact the mental well-being of foreign-born individuals based on nativity or country of birth.</li> </ul> <p>The central hypothesis is that higher acculturative stress would be associated with negative cultural identity distress, but this relationship can be mediated by higher social support and ethnic identity experiences.</p> <p><strong>Community-Based Data Gathering and Synthesizing on Mental Health</strong></p> <p>The lab is working with the immigrant community in New York to understand and reduce stress-related mental health issues among immigrants and to promote overall mental well-being. The objective of this multi-phase project is to gather data related to mental health and well-being within the Ghanaian immigrant community. This will be achieved through qualitative interviews conducted with key stakeholders and community members. The central aim is to gain a better understanding of their knowledge, attitudes, concerns, risk factors, and coping mechanisms. The project will utilize a mixed-method approach to ensure a comprehensive exploration of the topic.</p> <p>In Phase I, this project is examining the meaning(s) and definition(s) of psychological distress (specifically, anxiety and depression) and coping mechanisms from a cultural perspective, using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) as a basis. This will involve conducting ~100 one-on-one in-depth interviews. Additionally, it is assessing protective factors and coping mechanisms that immigrants utilize as potential buffers against acculturative stress.</p> <p>In Phase II, the goal is to develop a psychological distress survey and operationalize constructs and measures. Building upon the results obtained in Phase I, the project will develop and test 300 structured surveys, while also examining pathways and identifying components for a prototype behavioral intervention targeting psychological distress.</p> <p>Finally, in Phase III, the project aims to design and test the prototype behavioral intervention for psychological distress, with the aim of improving mental well-being among immigrants in the United States.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-nimhd"> <a href="#collapse5" role="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#collapse5" data-bs-parent="#accordion" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapse5" tabindex="0" class="accordion-trigger collapsed"> <div class="panel-heading"> <h2 role="tab">Kosuke Tamura, Ph.D.<br> Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator<br> Socio-Spatial Determinants of Health Lab </h2> <span class="icon"></span> </div> </a> <div id="collapse5" class="panel-collapse collapse" role="tabpanel"> <div class="panel-body"> <p><strong><a href="/about/overview/staff-directory/tamura.html">Dr. Kosuke Tamura staff profile</a></strong> | <strong><a href="/about/overview/staff-directory.html#socioSpatialLab">Lab members</a></strong></p> <h3>Scientific Expertise</h3> <p>Social and spatial epidemiology, mobile health (mHealth), cardiovascular health, geospatial analysis, biomarkers of stress, mental health</p> <h3>Research and Programmatic Interests</h3> <p>Interests include the application of geospatial methodologies (geographic information systems [GIS], global positioning systems [GPS]) to address the limitations in neighborhood research.</p> <p>Dr. Tamura examines associations between exposure to neighborhood features and contexts and cardiovascular health (risk factors, morbidity, and mortality) among children, adults, and older adults. He is keen on potentially explaining race and ethnic disparities in cardiovascular health at the population level. He also applies wearable health devices and mobile health (mHealth) technologies to better understand real-time psychosocial factors (e.g., mood, stress) in relation to lifestyle behaviors via objective physical activity monitors, such as accelerometers.</p> <h3>Research Projects</h3> <p><strong>Linking Neighborhood Contexts to Domain-Specific Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior</strong></p> <p>Activities Completed over Time in 24 Hours (ACT24) was designed to evaluate domain-specific physical activity and sedentary behavior. The lab linked neighborhood segregation indices to ACT24 data to better understand how segregation is related to specific types of physical activity and sedentary behavior among a representative sample of U.S. middle age-to-older adults.</p> <p><strong>Examining the Role of Neighborhoods on Cardiovascular Health (Risk Factors, Morbidity, and Mortality)</strong></p> <p>Using large NIH-funded cohort studies, such as the Jackson Heart Study, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, and Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults, the lab studies how neighborhood physical (e.g., street connectivity, mixture of land use) and social environments (e.g., violence, problems, social cohesion) impact cardiovascular health with a special emphasis on racial and ethnic minority groups.</p> <p>Further, the lab investigates whether behaviors (e.g., sedentary behavior) and psychosocial stressors (e.g., discrimination, depression, etc.) mediate the relationships between neighborhood contexts and cardiovascular health risks (e.g., sleep, type 2 diabetes, etc.).</p> <p><strong>Simulating the Impact of Neighborhood Contexts and Health Behaviors and Outcomes</strong></p> <p>The lab aims to integrate the self-reported and objectively measured neighborhood characteristics through GIS and GPS technologies and individual behaviors via accelerometers as well as psychosocial stressors via ecological momentary assessment into systems modeling to elucidate the impact of dynamic changes and disparities in neighborhood factors and psychosocial stressors on cardiovascular health risks, such as physical activity and sedentary behavior.</p> <p><strong>Assessing Geospatial Patterns of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Centers</strong></p> <p>Using mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities data, the lab aims to better understand how those facilities across the United States are geospatially clustered over time and to elucidate mechanisms by which certain neighborhood contexts impact such geospatial patterns to address disparities in access to care.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="line-height: 5px"><br></div> <p><em>Page updated Jan. 26, 2024</em></p>  </div> <span class="bord"></span> <div class="right-sidebar"> <h3>Learn More</h3>  <p><a href="/docs/about-nimhd-factsheet.pdf">Download NIMHD Fact Sheet</a></p> <p>Read about what is happening at NIMHD at the <a href="/news-events/">News and Events</a> section</p> <p><a href="https://www.training.nih.gov/programs">NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education Programs</a></p> <h3>Contact Us</h3> <p>Tel: 301-402-1366</p> <p>Email: <a href="mailto:NIMHDinfo@NIMHD.NIH.gov">NIMHDinfo@NIMHD.NIH.gov</a></p> <h3>Stay Connected with Us:</h3> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/NIMHD" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a></p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/NIMHD" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/nimhd-nih/">LinkedIn</a></p> <p><a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIHNIMHD/subscriber/new" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Subscribe to Email Updates</a>  </div> </div>  </div>  </div>  <div class="row home"> <div class="footer"> <div class="col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-xs-12"> <div class="social-media box-shadow"> <div class="heading"> <img src="/assets/img/staying-connected.png" alt="" class="icon"> <h2>Staying Connected</h2> </div>  <ul class="col-xs-12"> <div style="padding-left: 13px"> <div style="float:left; margin: 0px; width: 33%"> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/NIMHD" class="gtm-footer-social" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="/assets/img/facebook.png" alt=""><br />Facebook</a> <a href="/disclaimer/" title="External link"><img src="/assets/img/exit-icon.png" data-pin-nopin="true" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a> </li> </div> <div style="float:left; margin: 0px; width: 33%"> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/NIMHD" class="gtm-footer-social" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="/assets/img/icon_X_footer.png" alt="X logo icon" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"><br />X</a> <a href="/disclaimer/" title="External link"><img src="/assets/img/exit-icon.png" data-pin-nopin="true" alt="X logo icon" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a> </li> </div> <div style="float:left; margin: 0px; width: 33%"> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/nimhd-nih/" class="gtm-footer-social" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="/assets/img/linkedin.png" alt=""><br />Linkedin</a> <a href="/disclaimer/" title="External link"><img src="/assets/img/exit-icon.png" data-pin-nopin="true" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a> </li> </div> </div> <div style="padding-left: 13px"> <div style="float:left; margin: 0px; width: 33%"> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC24wExXe2ynSniF-iKYTQaw" class="gtm-footer-social" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="/assets/img/youtube.png" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"><br /> Youtube</a> <a href="/disclaimer/" title="External link"><img src="/assets/img/exit-icon.png" data-pin-nopin="true" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a></li> </div> <div style="float:left; margin: 0px; width: 33%"> <li><a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIHNIMHD/subscriber/new" class="gtm-footer-social" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="/assets/img/newsletter.png" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"><br /> Email Subscription</a> <a href="/disclaimer/" title="External link"><img src="/assets/img/exit-icon.png" data-pin-nopin="true" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a></li> </div> <div style="float:left; margin: 0px; width: 33%"> <li><a href="/contact/"><img src="/assets/img/contact.png" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"><br />Contact Us</a></li> </div> </div> </ul> </div>  </div>  <div class="col-lg-8 col-md-8 col-sm-6 col-xs-12"> <div class="site-map box-shadow"> <ul> <li><a class="gtm-footer-nav" href="/">Home  <img src="/assets/img/footer-arrow-right.png" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a> </li> <li><a class="gtm-footer-nav" href="/about/">About  <img src="/assets/img/footer-arrow-right.png" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a></li> <li><a class="gtm-footer-nav" href="/programs/">Programs  <img src="/assets/img/footer-arrow-right.png" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a></li> <li><a class="gtm-footer-nav" href="/funding/">Funding Opportunities  <img src="/assets/img/footer-arrow-right.png" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a></li> <li><a class="gtm-footer-nav" href="/news-events/">News & Events  <img src="/assets/img/footer-arrow-right.png" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a></li> <li><a class="gtm-footer-nav" href="/resources/">Resources  <img src="/assets/img/footer-arrow-right.png" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a></li> <li><a class="gtm-footer-nav" href="/sitemap/">Site Map  <img src="/assets/img/footer-arrow-right.png" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a></li> <li><a class="gtm-footer-nav" href="/contact/">Contact Us  <img src="/assets/img/footer-arrow-right.png" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a></li> <li><a class="gtm-footer-nav" href="/foia/">FOIA  <img src="/assets/img/footer-arrow-right.png" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a></li> <li><a class="gtm-footer-nav" href="https://www.hhs.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Opens in a new tab">HHS Vulnerability Disclosure  <img src="/assets/img/footer-arrow-right.png" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a></li> <li><a class="gtm-footer-nav" href="/disclaimer/">Privacy/Disclaimer/Accessibility Policy  <img src="/assets/img/footer-arrow-right.png" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a></li> <li><a class="gtm-footer-nav" href="/viewers-and-players/">Viewers & Players  <img src="/assets/img/footer-arrow-right.png" alt="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto"></a></li> </ul> </div>  </div>  <div class="col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 bottom-footer"> <div class="purple-bar box-shadow"> <a class="gtm-footer-nav" href="https://www.hhs.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Opens in new tab">U.S. Department of Health & Human Services</a> | <a class="gtm-footer-nav" href="https://www.nih.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Opens in new tab">National Institutes of Health</a> | <a class="gtm-footer-nav" href="https://www.usa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Opens in new tab">USA.gov</a> </div> </div> </div>  </div>  </div>   <script src="/assets/js/jquery-3.7.1.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/assets/js/jquery.slinky.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/assets/bootstrap/js/bootstrap.bundle.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/assets/js/bicubicInterpolation.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/assets/js/jquery.basictable.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/assets/js/functions-bs5.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script> $(function() { /**/ $(document).on('click', '.yamm .dropdown-menu', function(e) { e.stopPropagation() }) }) $(document).ready(function() { /**To be DESKTOP ONLY functionality**/ $('.level-two').hover(function() { $('.level-three').removeClass('open'); $('.menu-group').removeClass('open'); $(this).parent().addClass('open'); $(this).parent().find('.level-three').addClass('open'); }); $('a.dropdown-toggle').click(function(event) { if ($(window).width() > 990) { var link_location = $(this).attr('href'); window.location.href = link_location; } }); $('.dropdown').hover(function(event) { if ($(window).width() > 990) { $('.dropdown').each(function() { $(this).removeClass('open'); }); $(this).addClass('open'); } }, function() { $('.dropdown').each(function() { $(this).removeClass('open'); }); $('.level-three').removeClass('open'); $('.menu-group').removeClass('open'); }); /**End DESKTOP ONLY functionality**/ $('.dropdown-toggle').click(function() { $('.menu-group').removeClass('open'); $('.level-three').removeClass('open'); }); }); </script> <script> $(document).ready(function() { $('#menu').slinky(); }); </script>  <script> ! function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (!d.getElementById(id)) { js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); } }(document, "script", "twitter-wjs"); </script> </body>  </html>

CINXE.COM

Population and Community Health Sciences Branch