Pilot Projects
The Acres Homes Cancer Prevention Collaboration (CPC) has a dedicated Developmental Core to support pilot research projects that offer innovative, transdisciplinary methods for preventing cancer in Acres Homes and generating insights, which can be applied to other communities. With support from the Career Enhancement Core, pilot funding is designed to recruit and retain promising, early-career researchers in the fight to prevent cancer in communities experiencing high level of poverty.
A first request for applications (RFA) to identify and fund community-engaged research projects was announced in August 2023 and a second opportunity to apply for funding was posted in March 2024.
Round three of pilot projects funding has launched!
Title: Pilot research funding to support community-engaged research in persistent poverty communities: A focus on Be Well Acres Homes (1U54CA280804-02)
Selected pilot projects
First round
Partnering to prevent cancer and Alzheimer’s disease in midlife and older Black adults
Physical activity reduces risk for several types of cancers and Alzheimer’s disease. Residents in Acres Homes who do not get enough exercise could benefit from a yoga-based exercise class, which combines low-impact movement and mindfulness. The exercise class is meant to be adapted and expanded across Houston, based on insights from participants in Acres Homes, including interviews and wearable fitness tracking devices.
- Aim 1: Quantitatively assess modifiable risk factors for cancer and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs) among midlife and older adults residing in Acres Homes who are at increased risk for obesity-related cancers and ADRDs.
- Aim 2: Qualitatively understand multilevel barriers and preferences for physical activity, perceived risk of developing cancer and ADRD, and preferences for risk communication to inform the adaptation of Harmony & Health (HH), a yoga-based intervention, for midlife and older Black adults.
Principal Investigator: Scherezade K. Mama, Dr.P.H.
Community Partner: BakerRipley
Examining Culinary Medicine programming in Acres Homes using the Healthy Cooking Index (HCI)
The first goal of this project is to test a system for categorizing and evaluating nutrition courses, the Healthy Cooking Index (HCI), in Acres Homes. This pilot project is also meant to establish best practices for nutrition researchers to collaborate with local organizations to establish larger trials of nutrition classes.
- Aim 1: Evaluate the curricula of existing Be Well Acres Homes culinary medicine programs to determine alignment with HCI constructs.
- Aim 2: Conduct a quasi-experimental trial to examine baseline cooking habits and preliminary changes to home cooking practices and diet variables after participation in a culinary medicine class series, using the HCI score and qualitative interviews
Principal Investigator: Margaret Raber, Dr.P.H., M.P.H.
Community Partner: Beauty’s Garden and any interested nutrition education program in Acres Homes
Nourishing the community through Culinary Medicine: Cooking and nutrition education for the Acres Homes community
This research will test a culinary medicine and nutrition education program in the Acres Homes community to assess if the program can improve diet, cooking behaviors, weight and lower blood sugar levels among Acres Homes residents at risk for diabetes and obesity-related cancers. The goal is to use feedback from residents to expand offerings of the cooking class to other communities.
- Aim 1: Conduct a pilot study of the “Nourishing the Community through Culinary Medicine” program with patients at UT Physicians clinics serving Acres Homes to assess feasibility and preliminary efficacy.
- Aim 2: Explore participant experiences in the pilot study to explain findings and finalize protocol for a future application.
Principal Investigator: Natalia Heredia, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Community Partner: UT Physicians Victory and Greens
Second round
Barriers and facilitators of physical activity, sedentary behavior and healthy diet in the Acres Homes community
This project will serve as a baseline assessment for primary outcomes for all researchers to use as comparisons when evaluating the effects of the Acres Homes CPC and Be WellTM Acres Homes. The survey will also reveal new areas where programming can assist residents with healthy living.
- Aim 1: Estimate the prevalence of and investigate factors associated with physical activity, sedentary behaviors and healthy diet in Acres Homes.
- Aim 2: Examine perceptions and attitudes (e.g., access to parks, healthy foods, community support) associated with physical activity, sedentary behaviors and health diet at Acres Homes.
Principal Investigator: Sanjay Shete, Ph.D.
Community Partner: Be Well Acres Homes Steering Committee
Assessing perceptions of crime and safety on physical activity behavior in the Acres Homes community
This pilot study will inform larger studies that aim to create a safe physical environment, provide spaces to strengthen social relationships, and ultimately improve cancer outcomes in similar neighborhoods.
- Aim 1: Conduct a comprehensive examination of neighborhood characteristics, including objective and perceived crime and neighborhood safety, climate change and safety (e.g., heat/weather related), and physical activity behavior in the Acres Homes community.
- Aim 2: Evaluate the impact of crime and safety-related interventions in the Acres Homes community on resident’s physical activity behavior.
- Aim 3: Assess the impact of community-based physical activity on Acres Homes resident’s perceptions of neighborhood crime and safety.
Principal Investigator: Lorna McNeill, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Community Partner: Be Well Acres Homes Steering Committee
Exploring the activation of environmental supports for community-based physical activity among children and their parents in partnership with an economically underserved community in Texas
The goal of this research is to understand how Acres Homes residents engage in physical activity (PA), particularly in out-of-school time (OST). The study will culminate in a community forum in which findings will be presented and the next steps for improving physical activity in Acres Homes will be identified.
- Aim 1: To describe current child active commuting practice, participation in OST PA programing, and utilization of community spaces (e.g., school yards) along with related barriers, facilitating factors, and recommendations for these PA practices according to Acres Homes parents/guardians.
- Aim 2: To identify community places (e.g., multi-service centers) and spaces (e.g., school yards, parks) where children and parents go for physical activity in Acres Homes community, along with their perceived barriers and opportunities for promoting utilization of these spaces according to parents, community leaders and PA providers working in Acres Homes.
- Aim 3: To explore the perceived role of increased temperatures in shaping child outdoor PA in Acres Homes and recommended mitigating strategies among Acres Homes parents, community leaders and PA providers.
Principal Investigator: Andrew Springer, Dr.P.H.
Exploring the interplay between area-level food insecurity, urbanicity, rurality, persistent poverty and cancer-related health outcomes in Texas
This research aims to predict area-level food insecurity based on neighborhood characteristics. The end goal of this project is to develop an online dashboard in which people in Texas can look at the cancer risks in their neighborhoods.
- Aim 1. Examine associations of persistent poverty, urbanicity, and rurality with area-level food insecurity.
- Aim 2. Examine associations of area-level food insecurity with area-level cancer risk factors and health outcomes.
- Aim 3. Iteratively, develop a user-friendly web-based mapping dashboard.
Principal Investigator: Ryan Ramphul, Ph.D.