Research Projects & Grants

College/University

• Exploring and Evaluating Organizational Health Literacy in Social Media Among Under-resourced Communities, Role: PI, LLU School of Behavioral Health, (08/2024) Status: Approved
• CBPR Partners in Environmental Health Emergency Resilience, Role: Co-investigator, University of California, Los Angeles, (09/2009 - 09/2013) Status: Closed

County/Local

• Emergency Preparedness and Response Program, Role: Evaluation/Research Expert, County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health, (06/2013 - 06/2015) Status: Closed

Federal

• A Pilot Study of a Digitally-Enhanced Community Health Worker-led Intervention to Facilitate Early Palliative Care in Hispanic Pancreatic Cancer Patients, Role: Co-Investigator, Department of the Army, (08/2024 - 07/2026) Status: Awarded
• To elicit patient and caregiver perceptions of the disease course of PDAC, values and preferences regarding treatment and the role of palliative care, Role: Investigator, Department of Defense, (05/2024) Status: Approved
• Sickle Cell Family Planning: A Surveillance, Prevention, & Caring Pathway, Role: Investigator, Maternal and Child Health Bureau/Health Resources and Services Administration/DHHS, (10/2023) Status: Approved
• Mental Health Outreach Program for the Sickle Cell Community, Role: BH Program Evaluator, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, (09/2023 - 09/2025) Status: Awarded
• Maternal Health Research Collaborative for Minority-Serving Institutions, Role: Co-Investigator, Maternal and Child Health Bureau/Health Resources and Services Administration/DHHS, (09/2023 - 09/2026) Status: Awarded
• Graduate Psychology Education Programs FY23-25, Role: QI and Program Evaluation Coordinator, Bureau of Health Professions/Health Resources and Services Administration/DHHS, (07/2023 - 06/2026) Status: Awarded
• Community Health Worker Training Program, Role: PD/PI, Bureau of Health Professions/Health Resources and Services Administration/DHHS, (09/2022 - 06/2026) Status: Awarded
• Centers of Excellence, Role: Evaluator, Bureau of Health Professions/Health Resources and Services Administration/DHHS, (07/2022 - 06/2027) Status: Awarded
• Project C.H.A.N.G.E. understanding health beliefs and readiness for lifestyle change in young, low-income African American men, Role: PI, National Institutes of Health/DHHS, (05/2022 - 05/2023) Status: Completed
• Unpacking the Black Box of Problem-Solving: Dosage, Delivery, Culture, and Impact on Internalizing Problems for Adolescents, Role: Other Significant Contributor, National Institute of Mental Health/NIH/DHHS, (01/2022 - 12/2024) Status: Closed
• Graduate Psychology Education Program, Role: Qualitative Program Evaluator, Bureau of Health Professions/Health Resources and Services Administration/DHHS, (09/2019 - 08/2023) Status: Closed
• Glucocorticoid signaling, taxane resistance, and prostate cancer mortality disparity, Role: Co-Investigator, National Cancer Institute/NIH/DHHS, (04/2019 - 03/2022) Status: Closed
• Community-based participatory research to develop environmental health emergency resilience, Role: PI, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/DHHS, (03/2013 - 03/2014) Status: Completed
• LLU Center for Health Disparities Research, Role: Co-Investigator, National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities/NIH/NIMHD, (07/2012 - 01/2020) Status: Closed
• Cancer Epidemiology in Adventists - A Low Risk Group, Role: Co-investigator, National Institutes of Health/DHHS, (07/2007 - 12/2008) Status: Closed
• Loma Linda University Center for Health Disparities Research, Role: Co-investigator, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities/NIH/DHHS, (09/2005 - 06/2012) Status: Closed
• Prostrate cancer prevention behaviors among African American men, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/DHHS, (10/2002 - 09/2003) Status: Closed
• Cancer Epidemiology in Adventists - A Low Risk Group, National Cancer Institute/NIH/DHHS, (09/2002 - 06/2003) Status: Closed
• Prostate cancer prevention behaviors among African American men, National Institutes of Health/DHHS, (10/2000 - 09/2003) Status: Closed
• Survey of HIV/AIDS in recovering persons (SHARP) - knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in deaf and hearing persons., Role: PI, National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS, (04/1996) Status: Completed
• To test the feasibility of a digitally enhanced CHW-led intervention focusing on patient and caregiver education, clarifying patient and caregiver goals, advanced care planning, and early palliative care engagement in a pilot study of Hispanic patients with PDAC, Role: Investigator, Department of Defense, (12/2024) Status: Approved

For Profit Organization

• Latino Semaglutide Study (LSS), Role: Investigator, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Inc., (07/2022 - 10/2024) Status: Completed
• Responding to a Community’s Call for Action: Studying the Health Effects of an Intermodal Railyard in San Bernardino, Role: Co-PD/PI, BP America, Inc., (11/2010 - 06/2013) Status: Closed

Internal

• Understanding Chronic Absenteeism among Latinx Elementary Students: Parent Perspectives, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (05/2024) Status: Approved
• Cultivating Awareness: A Pilot Intervention to Enhance Knowledge and Attitudes towards Prostate Cancer Screening in African American Men, Phase 1, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (01/2024) Status: Approved
• Evaluating an integrated family-based vaccination program to support vaccine uptake in vaccine hesitant populations in Sierra Leone: A life-course vaccination program, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Counseling & Family Sciences, (01/2024) Status: Approved
• The impact of bariatric surgery on periodontal health, Role: Consultant, LLU - GRASP, (01/2024 - 12/2025) Status: Awarded
• Families, Schools and Community Engaged Together (FASCET): A Community Resiliency Model (CRM) Based Family Resiliency for 5th Grade Students in Kajiado County, Kenya, Role: Co-Investigator, LLU - GRASP, (06/2022 - 10/2025) Status: Awarded
• Understanding the Impact of Melatonin Use on Adolescent Functioning: A Pilot and Feasibility Trial of the Melatonin Adolescent Research Study (MARS), Role: Consultant, LLU - GRASP, (05/2021 - 12/2025) Status: Awarded
• Haitian nurses study, Role: Investigator, LLU School of Nursing, (04/2021 - 04/2022) Status: Completed
• Wellness Over Weariness for Nurses (WOW for Nurses), Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Nursing - Graduate, (10/2020) Status: Approved
• Psychosocial needs of released long-term incarcerated older adults. A quantitative study, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (12/2019) Status: Completed
• Support after stillbirth and infant death (SASAID), Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Nursing - Graduate, (10/2019 - 06/2023) Status: Completed
• Released long term incarcerated older adults; assessing their psychosocial needs. A descriptive study, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (07/2019 - 07/2020) Status: Completed
• CRM for adults with chronic illnesses outpatient program research study, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (07/2019) Status: Approved
• African immigrant health: Rates, knowledge and perception of prostate cancer, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (05/2019) Status: Completed
• Support After Stillbirth and Infant Death (SASAID), Role: PD/PI, LLU, (05/2019 - 05/2025) Status: Awarded
• Exploring wholeness and learning climates among Allied Health Programs at a religious university, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (08/2018 - 08/2019) Status: Completed
• Improving genetic testing rates to enable targeted therapy: Novel combination therapy targeting Snail and PARP for advanced ovarian cancer in Hispanic women, Role: Other Significant Contributor, LLU School of Medicine, (01/2018 - 12/2021) Status: Closed
• A cross sectional study on Korean American mental health distress and help-seeking behavior in the greater Los Angeles area, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (11/2017 - 11/2018) Status: Completed
• Understanding Health and Emotional Responses and Perceptions of Asian Indian Needs (HER-PAIN), Role: PD/PI, LLU - GRASP, (03/2017 - 03/2022) Status: Closed
• A tele-coaching intervention to support low SES families in the "nurturing parenting program:" A randomized controlled trial, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (03/2017 - 03/2018) Status: Completed
• Acculturation, discrimination, and mental health in 2nd generation Afghan-Americans, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (12/2016 - 12/2017) Status: Completed
• Children's whole health initiative, Role: Investigator, LLU Center for Community Resilience, (08/2016 - 08/2017) Status: Completed
• Understanding patterns of screening for depression at a predominantly Latino serving mid-sized federally qualified health center in the Inland Empire, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (06/2016 - 06/2017) Status: Completed
• Evaluation of Vibrant Life Diabetes Experience, Role: Investigator, Loma Linda University Medical Center, (05/2016 - 05/2017) Status: Completed
• Understanding patterns of screening for depression at a predominantly Latino-serving midsize federally qualified health center in the Inland Empire, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (04/2016) Status: Completed
• MEND Program effectiveness study: Type I diabetes and chronic kidney disease, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Counseling & Family Sciences, (12/2015 - 12/2016) Status: Completed
• Project Halt: motivating adolescents to engage in advocacy and policy implementation, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (11/2015 - 11/2016) Status: Completed
• Leadership at the point of contact: exploring empowering leadership with frontline employees, Role: Investigator, LLU Center for Health Research, (06/2015 - 06/2016) Status: Completed
• Exploring perspectives of mental health in the Somali community: a qualitative study, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (03/2015 - 03/2016) Status: Completed
• Exploring perspectives of mental health in the Somali community: a qualitative study, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (03/2015 - 03/2016) Status: Completed
• Can a long-term care policy and community programs meet the needs of middle class family caregivers of persons with dementia? A descriptive exploratory study, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (10/2014 - 10/2015) Status: Completed
• Predictors of psychological distress among Afghan refugees in San Diego County, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (10/2014 - 10/2015) Status: Completed
• Emotional intelligence: How it influences levels of unhappiness and ability to serve as a foster parent, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (03/2014 - 03/2015) Status: Completed
• Beliefs about complementary and alternative medicine in HIV-infected black women using the theory of planned behavior, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Health Promotion and Education, (11/2012 - 11/2013) Status: Completed
• Responding to a community's call for action: Studying the health effects of an intermodal railyard in San Bernardino (phase 1), Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Environmental & Occupational Health, (10/2012 - 10/2013) Status: Completed
• The hookah trend among a Southern California community college population, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Health Promotion and Education, (05/2012 - 05/2013) Status: Completed
• Effects of acculturation on HIV/AIDS sexual risk behaviors among Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women, Role: PI, LLU School of Public Health, (08/2011 - 08/2012) Status: Completed
• Building capacity for community disaster resilience: The role of public environmental health departments in meeting the challenge, Role: PI, LLU Center for Health Research, (05/2011) Status: Completed
• Child and family response to weight management programs, Role: PI, LLU School of Public Health, (04/2011 - 04/2012) Status: Completed
• Correlates of soy food consumption in Adventist health study - 2, Role: PI, LLU School of Public Health, (04/2011 - 04/2012) Status: Completed
• Impact of a medically supervised weight management program on obese and morbidly obese persons: Lite-weights, beaver medical group program, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Health Promotion and Education, (03/2011) Status: Completed
• Impact of Dietary Protein Intake and Sunlight Exposure on Serum Fibroblast Growth Factor 23, Role: Other Professional, LLU Center for Health Research, (01/2011 - 01/2013) Status: Closed
• Exploring factors that inhibit or enhance maternal coping with stillbirth in Chhattisgarh, India, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Health Promotion and Education, (12/2010 - 12/2011) Status: Completed
• Preventive care utilization among black women: perceived beliefs, benefits and barriers to mammography screening, Role: PI, LLU School of Public Health, (08/2010 - 08/2011) Status: Completed
• Acute effect of a single high-fat meal on inflammatory markers and endothelial function, Role: PI, LLU School of Public Health, (08/2010 - 08/2011) Status: Completed
• Emergency department staff adherence to bad news delivery recommendations, Role: PI, LLU School of Public Health, (08/2010 - 08/2011) Status: Completed
• Project C.H.A.N.G.E; Changing the Health of African American men with New and Great Experiences, Role: Principal Investigator, LLU School of Public Health, (05/2010 - 05/2012) Status: Closed
• Effects of breastfeeding on maternal long-term weight change, Role: PI, LLU School of Public Health, (12/2009) Status: Completed
• Single High-Fat Meal Effect on Inflammatory Markers: Racial Differences, Role: Principal Investigator, LLU Center for Health Research, (05/2007 - 05/2012) Status: Closed
• Application of the asset mapping model of church based HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Health Promotion and Education, (04/2007 - 04/2008) Status: Completed
• Infant feeding decisions among pregnant black WIC participants and the role of peer support, Role: Investigator, LLU School of Public Health, (01/2007 - 01/2008) Status: Completed
• Predictability of coronary heart disease event rates by common carotid artery intima-media thickness alone compared to combined three-site sampling in the atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) study, Role: PI, LLU Center for Health Research, (06/2006) Status: Completed
• Low birth weight, very low birth weight and infant mortality in San Bernardino County: a secondary analysis of maternal factors, Role: PI, LLU School of Public Health, (03/2006) Status: Completed
• Social welfare systems and their effects on adolescent violence, injecting drug use, and negative health behaviors, Role: PI, LLU School of Public Health, (09/2004) Status: Completed
• HIV/AIDS preventive behaviors among nursing students in Rwanda: relationship with knowledge, self-efficacy and outcome expectancies, Role: PI, LLU School of Public Health, (01/2004) Status: Completed
• Readiness factors for teaching abstinence based HIV/AIDS programs, Role: PI, LLU Center for Health Research, (09/2003) Status: Completed
• Factors related to delayed time for HIV care among youth living with HIV: a cross-sectional analysis of social support networks and access to care, Role: Investigator, LLU Center for Health Research, (08/2003) Status: Completed
• Hispanic batterers: describing a profile and treatment outcomes, Role: PI, LLU School of Public Health, (03/2003) Status: Completed
• Hand intensive lesiure activities and repetitive injuries of the distal upper extremities, Role: Investigator, LLU Center for Health Research, (01/2001) Status: Completed
• Risk factors associated with very low birth weight infants of teenage mothers in San Bernardino County, Role: Investigator, LLU School of Public Health, (07/1998) Status: Completed
• Influence of acculturation and psychosocial predictors of smoking status of Portuguese immigrants in California, using the transtheoretical model of behavior change, Role: PI, LLU School of Allied Health Professionals, (03/1998) Status: Completed
• Barriers to early detection of breast cancer in Tobago, Role: Investigator, LLU Center for Health Research, (05/1996) Status: Completed
• Cultural differences in medical decision making in women with stage I and II breast cancer, Role: PI, LLU Center for Health Research, Status: Completed
• Focus project evaluation, Role: PI, LLU School of Public Health, Status: Completed
• A Pathway to Recovery: A Grounded Theory Study on Latina Mental Health Treatment Preferences and the Implications for Treatment of Post Partum Depression, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Social Work, (12/2024) Status: Approved
• Financial Toxicity in Patients receiving treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Gastroenterology, (04/2025) Status: Approved

Non-Profit Organization

• Evaluating an integrated family-based vaccination program to support vaccine uptake in vaccine hesitant populations in Sierra Leone: A life-course vaccination program, Role: PD/PI, Sabin Vaccine Institute, (10/2023 - 08/2024) Status: Awarded
• Improving quality of life for persons with SCD through Resilience and Empowerment (SCD-RE) Program, Role: Investigator, Networking California for Sickle Cell Care, (04/2022) Status: Approved
• Augmented full plate living intervention through use of community health workers and integrated behavioral health: CHW FPD + (CHW led Full Plate Living Intervention plus), Role: PI, Ardmore Institute of Health, (03/2022 - 03/2023) Status: Completed
• Understanding the social and behavioral dimensions of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among healthcare workers in Sierre Leone: Implications for community vaccine uptake, Role: Investigator, Sabin Vaccine Institute, (02/2022 - 12/2024) Status: Completed
• Understanding the social and behavioral dimensions of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among healthcare workers in Sierra Leone: Implications for community vaccine uptake, Role: PD/PI, Sabin Vaccine Institute, (11/2021 - 12/2022) Status: Closed
• Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic, Role: Behavioral Health, The Center for Comprehensive Care & Diagnosis of Inherited Blood Disorders, (07/2021 - 06/2024) Status: Closed
• Expanding Access to Sickle Cell Disease Care in California - Education and Awareness, Role: Co-Investigator, The Center for Comprehensive Care & Diagnosis of Inherited Blood Disorders, (07/2021 - 06/2023) Status: Closed
• Full Plate Living Online and In-person Interventions for Latinas, Role: Co-Investigator, Ardmore Institute of Health, (07/2021 - 06/2022) Status: Closed
• Augmented Full Plate Diet Intervention Through Use of Community Health Workers, Role: PD/PI, Ardmore Institute of Health, (10/2020 - 07/2021) Status: Closed
• Augmented Full Plate Diet Intervention through use of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Integrated Behavioral Health, One-year follow-up phase, Role: PD/PI, Ardmore Institute of Health, (01/2020 - 01/2021) Status: Closed
• Full Plate Diet Plus: pilot testing a community contextualized weight loss intervention, Role: PD/PI, Ardmore Institute of Health, (03/2019 - 03/2020) Status: Closed
• Comprehensive Tobacco Treatment Program, Role: PD/PI, March of Dimes, (08/2018 - 06/2019) Status: Closed
• Augmented Full Plate Diet Intervention through Use of Community Health Workers and Integrated Behavioral Health: CHW FPD + (CHW led Full Plate Diet Intervention Plate), Role: PD/PI, Ardmore Institute of Health, (11/2017 - 10/2019) Status: Closed
• Responding to a community's call for action: studying the health effects of an intermodal railyard in San Bernardino (community-based health assessment) - Phase 2, Role: Investigator, BP / South Coast Air Quality Management District, (07/2013 - 07/2014) Status: Completed
• Responding to a community's call for action: studying the health effects of an intermodal railyard in San Bernardino (Phase 3), Role: Investigator, BP / South Coast Air Quality Management District, (08/2012 - 08/2013) Status: Completed
• Testing the Efficacy of an Audio Program and Discussing Guide in Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding in Cameroon, Africa, Role: Principal Investigator, Nestle Foundation, (03/2011 - 02/2013) Status: Closed
• The effects of consumption of California dried mission figs on serum lipid concentrations in hyperlipidemic adults, Role: Investigator, California Fig Advisory Board, (10/2010 - 10/2011) Status: Completed
• Education and recruitment of minority women for participation in breast cancer clinical trials in the Inland Empire, CA, Role: Investigator, Komen (Susan G.) Breast Cancer Foundation, (12/2009) Status: Completed
• Access and utilization of mental health services among Latinos, African Americans, and Asian-Pacific Islanders in San Bernardino County, Role: Investigator, Latino Health Collaborative, (02/2009 - 02/2010) Status: Completed

State

• Peer Personnel Training and Placement Program, Role: Co-Investigator, Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, (07/2021 - 06/2023) Status: Closed
• Pipeline Program to Mental Behavioral Health, Role: Co-Investigator, Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, (06/2018 - 06/2019) Status: Closed
• Is the cost of beauty putting black women at risk? The IEAAWC hair and health study, Role: PI, California Breast Cancer Research Program, (06/2015 - 06/2016) Status: Completed
• Loma Linda University Asthma Program, Role: Investigator, First 5 (Children & Families Commission) of Riverside County, (01/2015 - 01/2016) Status: Completed
• Is the Cost of Beauty Putting Black Women at Risk: The Inland Empire African American Wellness Collaborative (IEAAWC) Hair and Health Study, Role: Principal Investigator, California Breast Cancer Research Program, (09/2013 - 08/2015) Status: Closed
• Project ACE (Asthma Care Everywhere): Servicing Children’s Asthma Needs in Riverside County (13101 AS), Role: Co-Investigator, First 5 (Children & Families Commission) of Riverside County, (07/2012 - 06/2017) Status: Closed
• First 5 San Bernardino needs assessment, Role: PI, Children and Families Commission of San Bernardino County, (01/2005 - 01/2006) Status: Completed