Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research

Conducting research to develop, evaluate and disseminate health promotion and disease prevention programs in diverse settings and populations.

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the US, despite the fact that most cases can be prevented through routine screening. Many adults, particularly among minority populations, are simply not getting screened according to recommendations, putting them at risk.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time to educate the public about colorectal cancer and the importance of screening. Almost all colorectal cancers begin as precancerous polyps which, if detected early enough, can be removed before they develop into cancer. And the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently updated recommendations for screening to begin at age 45. The question is: how do we get people to follow these guidelines?

Hand holding a blue ribbon.

At the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, we are working in collaboration with Federally Qualified Health Centers throughout Texas to increase their patients’ colorectal cancer screening rates. Our “Public Health and Health Systems Partnerships to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening in Clinical Settings” program has seen an upward trend in screenings by implementing evidence-based interventions including provider audit and feedback, provider and patient reminders, and the reduction of structural barriers with partner clinics.

Please join us in spreading awareness and education about colorectal cancer screening and prevention. You can do your part by participating in the CDC’s Screen for Life: National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign and by sharing your own efforts to promote colorectal cancer screening. You can also find out more about our colorectal cancer prevention work on our Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month page.

Together, we can reduce the burden of colorectal cancer in Texas and beyond.

Our Mission

The mission of the UTHealth Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research (CHPPR) is to conduct research to develop, evaluate, and disseminate health promotion and disease prevention programs, with a particular focus on decreasing cancer-related and chronic disease health disparities among African American and Hispanic populations.

CHPPR is proud to be the only CDC Prevention Research Center (PRC) in the state of Texas. As one of 26 PRCs nationwide, CHPPR is part of a collaborative network of research centers focused on the study of how people and communities can avoid or counter the risks for chronic illnesses, particularly among underserved populations.

Featured News

San José Clinic Partners with CHPPR to Prevent Diabetes in Underserved Communities

San José Clinic provides a wide variety of primary and specialty healthcare services to uninsured and underserved communities in Houston. The Clinic has partnered with CHPPR to provide Diabetes Prevention Program referrals and with the UTHealth Houston Cizik School of Nursing to offer opportunities to Doctor of Nursing Practice students.
Community Health Workers Test the Use of an Online Epilepsy Management Support Tool in Clinics

CHPPR and Epilepsy Foundation Texas are testing a web-based epilepsy management support tool as a Community Health Worker delivered intervention in clinics. Health workers can use the tool to support patients' epilepsy self-management while also providing linkage to additional services.
Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Coaches Help Reduce Prediabetes Rates

Lifestyle Change Programs are a key component of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, which CHPPR is helping Texas clinics to implement. These programs rely on Lifestyle Coaches to help participants make and maintain the lifestyle changes that can help prevent type 2 diabetes.
CHPPR Partner Epilepsy Foundation Texas Provides Epilepsy Support, Services, and Education Across the State

The Epilepsy Foundation Texas is a leader in the treatment and support of people living with epilepsy, offering a variety of services including medical clinics, support groups, summer camps, and community education throughout the state. They also partner with CHPPR to implement MINDSET, a decision-support program for epilepsy management, in clinics.

News Archive

Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research

Conducting research to develop, evaluate and disseminate health promotion and disease prevention programs in diverse settings and populations.

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Our Mission

Featured News

UTHealth Houston, UNTHSC Partnership Key to Success of "All for Them" Vaccination Program

Fernandez and Cain appointed to new leadership positions to bolster population health and faculty development

Community Scientist Program Brings Perspectives of Underserved Populations into the Research Process

Dissertation Proposal Defense by Babak Soltanalizadeh, Dynamic Modeling of High-Dimensional Time Course data with Applications to

Talks on Diversity with Assistant Dean Mary Anne Smith, PhD

Thesis Presentation by Yun Qing, PhD: Bayesian Adaptive Designs for Early Phase Clinical Trials with a Time-to-Event Endpoint

Dissertation Defense by Shwetha V Kumar MPH : A Multi-Omic Pan- Cancer Analysis of the p53 Pathway Activity

UTHealth Institute of Molecular Medicine Seminar Series

Dissertation Defense by Holly A. Hill MS, MPH : Integrative Prognostic Machine-Learning Models in Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Diversity week food giveaway- TACO TIME!

National Public Health Week-Breakfast

Thesis Presentation by Katie Clark, BS: Viral Particle Detection in Wastewater

Public Health Career Panel: Exploring Careers in Public Health

Dissertation Defense by Bingjie Li, BM, MPH: Overview of C. difficile Infection and Its Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment

Dissertation Defense by Joshua S. Yudkin, MPH MA PHD(c): Evaluation of eHealth Solutions for Pediatric Obesity Treatment in the Cl

Biostatistics In-Person Seminar: Dr. Quackenbush on Why Networks Matter: Embracing Biological Complexity

National Public Health Week | 2023 Dean's Chat

Thesis Presentation by Mrinal Ranjan, BDS:

Dissertation Proposal Defense by Jessica N. Wise, MPH: Political Economy and Well-being: A Comparative Systems Approach

Dissertation Proposal Defense by Paul Yeh, MD, MPH: Epidemiology and economic analysis of preventive inequities in Texas Hispanics

Practice Day 2023

All of Us Researcher Workshop

Employer Info Session: MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dissertation Defense by Jenna Sneed, MPH: The Creation of a Team Behavior Experience Index for Psychological Safety in Nursing

Dissertation Proposal Defense by Runzhi Zhou, MS: Neural Network Modeling for Brain fMRI Data: Covariance Regression Estimation...

Dissertation Defense by Meghan Haffey, MPH: Factors Influencing COVID-19 Vaccination Behavior Among Adults with Asthma

Thesis Presentation by Michael Anosike, BS: Assessment of Comfortability & Willingness Among Substance Use Professionals

Dissertation Proposal Defense by Pengwei Zhu, BS, MS: Data Science Approaches for Brain Connectivity Network Analysis in Adolescen

James H. Steele Lecture - Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD, Speaker

Dissertation Defense by Dennis Ogeto Nyachoti, PHO, MPH: Exploring the Association of Social Vulnerabilities with COVID-19

Dissertation defense by Belinda A. Medrano, MPH: Tuberculosis disease and risk factor comparisons, elderly versus younger adults

Thesis Presentation by Mobin Khajeh, BS: Investigating Association of Dietary Metabolites with Cardiovascular Health Outcomes

Dissertation Defense by Julio Allo, MPH, MBA: Influence of Hospital Characteristics on Cost & Length of Stay in Childhood Leukemia

Thesis Presentation by Stanley Ta, BS: Leveraging Dynamic Pressure Measurements in Predictive Modeling of TBI Outcomes

Dissertation Proposal Defense by Yiqun Wang, MA: Healthcare Utilization for Adults in Commercial High Deductible Insurance

Thesis Defense by Saipranathi Gunda Saipranathi Gunda, BS, MS Candidate Risk Factors of Dementia After Stroke

Stop The Bleed

Dissertation Proposal Defense by Elizabeth Leass, MPH: Dating Violence among Adolescents: Association with Suicide and Measurement

INTERPROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY ACTION POVERTY SIMULATOR EVENTS - 4/26/2023, 4/28/2023

Webinar: What's for Lunch? The Past, Present, and Future of School Nutrition