Projects by Researcher

Scientific Questions Being Studied

This exploratory analysis will examine the association between housing insecurity and the impact of COVID-19 on participant health and mental health as measured in the COPE surveys. The initial exploration will assess whether the sample sizes and cross-tabulations are sufficient to proceed with a research project examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on housing insecure individuals, as compared to securely-housed individuals.

Scientific Questions Being Studied

Sexual and Gender Minorities (SGM), SGM of color in particular, have heightened rates of cardiovascular disease. However, it is not clear how cardiovascular disease risk changes over time. This is vitally important information due to the importance of timing prevention interventions to be optimally impactful. Further, it is important to understand the factors that may mitigate the negative effects of cardiovascular disease. In this analysis we will examine trajectories of cardiovascular risk in the All of Us longitudinal research cohort. In addition, we will examine differences in the trajectories by race, gender, sexual orientation and their intersection on trajectories of cardiovascular risk. Further, we will examine if features of social life like social support and residence mitigate the negative effects of cardiovascular disease. We anticipate clarifying how cardiovascular risk changes over time between multiple different ethic/racial, sexual orientation and gender groups.

Scientific Questions Being Studied

We have evidence to suggest that there is an association between inflammation and cardiovascular disease health. However, less is known about how social determinate of health, such as features of the built environment (e.g. neighborhood safety, urban vs. rural, etc.) are associated with cardiovascular health through inflammation. Moreover, it is unclear how these mechanistic pathways from social determinates of health, through inflammation, to cardiovascular disease risk vary by key sociodemographic features like race/ethnicity and sexual orientation. Thus, the following investigation 2 has research questions.
1. Are environmental features (e.g. housing instability, neighborhood features, etc.) associated with physiological deregulation as measured by inflammation (e.g. cytokines, Interleukin’s, and c-reactive protein, biological markers of inflammation) and thus cardiovascular disease risk?
2. Do these associations vary by race and/or sexual orientation?

Scientific Questions Being Studied

We have evidence to suggest that there is an association between inflammation and cardiovascular disease health. However, less is known about how social determinate of health, such as features of the built environment (e.g. neighborhood safety, urban vs. rural, etc.) are associated with cardiovascular health through inflammation. Moreover, it is unclear how these mechanistic pathways from social determinates of health, through inflammation, to cardiovascular disease risk vary by key sociodemographic features like race/ethnicity and sexual orientation. Thus, the following investigation 2 has research questions.
1. Are environmental features (e.g. housing instability, neighborhood features, etc.) associated with physiological deregulation as measured by inflammation (e.g. cytokines, Interleukin’s, and c-reactive protein, biological markers of inflammation) and thus cardiovascular disease risk?
2. Do these associations vary by race and/or sexual orientation?

Scientific Questions Being Studied

Sexual and Gender Minorities (SGM), SGM of color in particular, have heightened rates of cardiovascular disease. However, it is not clear how cardiovascular disease risk changes over time. This is vitally important information due to the importance of timing prevention interventions to be optimally impactful. Further, it is important to understand the factors that may mitigate the negative effects of cardiovascular disease. In this analysis we will examine trajectories of cardiovascular risk in the All of Us longitudinal research cohort. In addition, we will examine differences in the trajectories by race, gender, sexual orientation and their intersection on trajectories of cardiovascular risk. Further, we will examine if features of social life like social support and residence mitigate the negative effects of cardiovascular disease. We anticipate clarifying how cardiovascular risk changes over time between multiple different ethic/racial, sexual orientation and gender groups.

Scientific Questions Being Studied

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among men and women over the age of 65 in the United States, men account for more than half of the deaths due to CVD. Moreover, evidence suggests that cardiovascular disparities exist among men, such that those who identify as sexual minorities are more likely to experience poor cardiovascular health as compared to heterosexuals. The objective of this proposal is to examine physiological and behavioral mechanisms linking self-reported PTSD to cardiovascular disease risk. We also would like to understand the moderating effect of race/ethnicity. The long-term objective of this research is to inform the creation of culturally relevant interventions to reduce the risk of CVD among YSMM.

Scientific Questions Being Studied

Researcher have shown that there was an increase in discrimination some points of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many researchers have suggested a myriad of reasons why this may be. However, it remains unclear what the correlates and distribution of discrimination experiences were for different groups of people. In addition, it is unknown how these experiences increased or decreased during high points in the pandemic. Lastly, it is unclear how social isolation and the disruption in human connection (e.g. with family, friends, etc.) may have been associated with the mental health effects of discrimination during the pandemic. This is of considerable public health significance because we must not only address the mental health needs of those in need, but understand the specific correlates of mental health, such as discrimination, to prevent such an uptick in mental health distress due to discrimination during the next pandemic.

Scientific Questions Being Studied

Sexual and Gender Minorities (SGM), SGM of color in particular, have heightened rates of cardiovascular disease. However, it is not clear how cardiovascular disease risk changes over time. This is vitally important information due to the importance of timing prevention interventions to be optimally impactful. Further, it is important to understand the factors that may mitigate the negative effects of cardiovascular disease. In this analysis we will examine trajectories of cardiovascular risk in the All of Us longitudinal research cohort. In addition, we will examine differences in the trajectories by race, gender, sexual orientation and their intersection on trajectories of cardiovascular risk. Further, we will examine if features of social life like social support and residence mitigate the negative effects of cardiovascular disease. We anticipate clarifying how cardiovascular risk changes over time between multiple different ethic/racial, sexual orientation and gender groups.

Scientific Questions Being Studied

The American Psychological Association describes discrimination as unfair or prejudicial treatment of people or groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, or sexual orientation (Discrimination: What it is, and how to cope, 2022). Discrimination is a social condition that can be displayed in several ways. All forms of discrimination have been proven to be contributors to developing poor health outcomes. (Krieger, N., 2000). Among these poor health outcomes include anxiety, mood disorders, and substance use disorder. The study aims to examine the relationship between discrimination and anxiety, mood disorders, and alcohol and drug use. Using an exploratory analysis, we will look at these associations cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The study aims to find if there is a difference in the relationship based on identity (i.e. race) and if different types of discrimination are more prevalent among certain types of demographic groups including races/ethnicities and sex.

Scientific Questions Being Studied

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among men and women over the age of 65 in the United States, men account for more than half of the deaths due to CVD. Moreover, evidence suggests that cardiovascular disparities exist among men, such that those who identify as sexual minorities are more likely to experience poor cardiovascular health as compared to heterosexuals. The objective of this proposal is to examine physiological and behavioral mechanisms linking self-reported PTSD to cardiovascular disease risk. We also would like to understand the moderating effect of race/ethnicity. The long-term objective of this research is to inform the creation of culturally relevant interventions to reduce the risk of CVD among YSMM. The proposed study specifically aims to:

Scientific Questions Being Studied

Researcher have shown that there was an increase in discrimination some points of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many researchers have suggested a myriad of reasons why this may be. However, it remains unclear what the correlates and distribution of discrimination experiences were for different groups of people. In addition, it is unknown how these experiences increased or decreased during high points in the pandemic. Lastly, it is unclear how social isolation and the disruption in human connection (e.g. with family, friends, etc.) may have been associated with the mental health effects of discrimination during the pandemic. This is of considerable public health significance because we must not only address the mental health needs of those in need, but understand the specific correlates of mental health, such as discrimination, to prevent such an uptick in mental health distress due to discrimination during the next pandemic.

Scientific Questions Being Studied

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among men and women over the age of 65 in the United States, men account for more than half of the deaths due to CVD. Moreover, evidence suggests that cardiovascular disparities exist among men, such that those who identify as sexual minorities are more likely to experience poor cardiovascular health as compared to heterosexuals. The objective of this proposal is to examine physiological and behavioral mechanisms linking self-reported discrimination to ambulatory blood pressure, an intermediate outcome used to assess subclinical cardiovascular disease, in a racially diverse group of YSMM aged 18-35. The long-term objective of this research is to inform the creation of culturally relevant interventions to reduce the risk of CVD among YSMM. The proposed study specifically aims to:

Scientific Questions Being Studied

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among men and women over the age of 65 in the United States, men account for more than half of the deaths due to CVD. Moreover, evidence suggests that cardiovascular disparities exist among men, such that those who identify as sexual minorities are more likely to experience poor cardiovascular health as compared to heterosexuals. The objective of this proposal is to examine physiological and behavioral mechanisms linking self-reported PTSD to cardiovascular disease risk. We also would like to understand the moderating effect of race/ethnicity. The long-term objective of this research is to inform the creation of culturally relevant interventions to reduce the risk of CVD among YSMM. The proposed study specifically aims to:

Scientific Questions Being Studied

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among men and women over the age of 65 in the United States, men account for more than half of the deaths due to CVD. Moreover, evidence suggests that cardiovascular disparities exist among men, such that those who identify as sexual minorities are more likely to experience poor cardiovascular health as compared to heterosexuals. The objective of this proposal is to examine physiological and behavioral mechanisms linking self-reported discrimination to ambulatory blood pressure, an intermediate outcome used to assess subclinical cardiovascular disease, in a racially diverse group of YSMM aged 18-35. The long-term objective of this research is to inform the creation of culturally relevant interventions to reduce the risk of CVD among YSMM. The proposed study specifically aims to: