Research
Objectives
The Community Health Impact Projects (CHIP) investigate how environmental, structural, and behavioral factors interact to shape chronic disease risk across the life course. Our work centers on the combined effects of air pollution, climate-related stressors, physical activity, and social determinants on immune, metabolic, and cardiopulmonary health. Using biomarker analysis, spatial methods, program evaluation, and community-engaged approaches, we contribute actionable insights that guide research, implementation, and public health decision-making. We explore population vulnerability, place-based risk, and life-stage exposures to better understand and address health disparities.
We emphasize collaborative, translational science—bridging academic research with public health practice to support healthier, more resilient communities. Our goal is to advance health promotion through data-informed action and systems-level engagement. By advancing evidence-based strategies and interventions, we empower individuals and communities to make informed decisions for better health and well-being.
Projects
CHIP-SCREEN: Community-Based Health Screenings and Spatial Epidemiology
CHIP-SCREEN is a core initiative that examines how environmental exposures converge to shape chronic disease risk in border communities. Through bilingual, community-based screenings conducted in collaboration with trusted partners, CHIP-SCREEN provides free testing for glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, obesity, blood pressure, and lung function. Screenings are delivered in neighborhood hubs such as schools, clinics, and community centers across environmentally burdened census tracts in El Paso. Participants also engage while contributing to a growing database of biomarkers, exposure, and social risk indicators. The project integrates this screening data with geospatial modeling using satellite-based environmental monitoring (e.g., NASA Earth observations), low-cost air sensors, and climate data to estimate community-level exposure to air pollution and extreme heat.
CHIP-NEEDS: Environmental Health Risk Assessment and Community-Engaged Exposure
CHIP-NEEDS focuses on assessing environmental health risks and community concerns in neighborhoods adjacent to the Bridge of the Americas (BOTA) Port of Entry and the nearby refinery in El Paso. Through a community-engaged approach, the project involves residents in identifying environmental concerns, shaping data collection tools, and interpreting findings. CHIP-NEEDS combines qualitative methods, including structured interviews and participatory workshops, with environmental sampling of air, soil, and water to document exposure risks in historically underserved areas disproportionately affected by industrial and cross-border activity. The project integrates exposure and community data with geospatial mapping and public health indicators to visualize cumulative risk and identify vulnerable populations. It uses frameworks to prioritize community voice in the interpretation of findings and development of recommendations.
CHIP-EVAL: Mixed-Methods Evaluations of Nutrition and Wellness programs
CHIP-EVAL leads public health evaluations that promote continuous improvement across school and community settings. The CHIP team applies mixed-methods strategies—including health markers, focus groups, implementation tracking, and force field analysis—to assess reach, effectiveness, fidelity, and sustainability. Evaluations are tailored in close collaboration with partners to support data-informed decision-making and long-term program success. GUSNIP: Evaluation of produce prescription and nutrition incentive programs supporting healthy food access among SNAP participants, with a focus on behavior change, reach, and clinic-retail integration. EPISD–DoDEA: Implementation and outcome evaluation of school wellness and physical activity programming for military-connected students in El Paso schools. TASTERSPACE: Evaluation of a hands-on nutrition education program that sparks food curiosity and healthy habits in children ages 5–11 through fun, family-centered exploration.
CHIP-NUTRITION: Education and School Meal Research to Support Healthy Eating
CHIP-NUTRITION investigates how culture, perception, and communication influence food choices in Latino families, with a focus on nutrition education and school meal engagement. The project centers on evaluating pork acceptance in a predominantly Latino elementary school in El Paso. Through bilingual, culturally tailored materials and interactive programming, CHIP-NUTRITION explores how children and caregivers respond to messaging about protein quality, food safety, sustainability, and healthfulness. The project also examines cafeteria behavior and meal selection patterns to assess the impact of education strategies on real-world food choices. Informed by community input, CHIP-NUTRITION integrates qualitative research, observational data, and environmental assessments to understand barriers and opportunities for promoting healthy eating in schools. The goal is to co-develop nutrition communication tools that are engaging, accessible, and culturally meaningful.
CHIP-GIS Mapping Environmental Exposure and Health Risk in Communities
CHIP-GIS is a geospatial research initiative that investigates how environmental exposures shape chronic disease patterns in structurally underserved communities. By integrating air quality monitoring, spatial epidemiology, and health records, CHIP-GIS builds place-based tools that inform community advocacy and evidence-driven policy. In Houston, we focus on environmental health disparities faced by Latino day laborers who work in high-risk outdoor settings. This project maps informal hiring sites across the city and overlays data on traffic-related air pollution, ground-level ozone, and urban heat island exposure. This work supports community-engaged strategies to reduce occupational exposures and improve resilience. In El Paso, we are using de-identified electronic health records to examine spatial trends in asthma and other respiratory illnesses across the region. By pairing ICD-10-coded health data with air pollution estimates, we are identifying neighborhood-level health burdens.
