We use trusted methods to deliver research with real-world impact.

All NHHRI studies are grounded in our commitment to culturally responsive, community-led research. Our work is guided by a national Leadership Council of experts and supported by a tiered network of Hispanic-serving providers across the U.S.

Research projects are overseen by our Institutional Review Board (IRB) to ensure ethical, community-informed standards. We also offer technical assistance to frontline partners, expanding access to quality research among underserved providers.

The studies

Current Research Studies

Current Research Studies

  • FOOD4MOMS
    Incentivizing fresh produce and nutrition education for mothers using a three-phase, community-led model.
    Funder: USDA GusNIP

  • Impact of CHW Strategy on Produce Prescription Uptake
    Using Community Health Workers to increase program participation among people with type 2 diabetes.
    Funder: American Heart Association

  • SWAMP Study
    Mapping food outlets in Hartford’s North and South Ends and developing a food swamp audit tool.
    Funder: NIH

  • Youth-Led Research on Unhealthy Food Marketing
    Empowering Hispanic and Black youth to research and address targeted food marketing in their communities.
    Funder: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

  • PA’LANTE Health Care Research
    Centering Latina voices in women's health research through participatory action and leadership training.
    Funder: PCORI

  • Guns Change the Story
    Evaluating firearm violence prevention strategies for Black and Hispanic youth in urban Connecticut.
    Funder: Fund for a Safer Future

  • Health Equity for Migrant & Seasonal Farmworkers
    Partnering with farms and clinics to improve access and services for MSFWs through community-based research.
    Funder: CT Health Foundation

  • Family Wellness Center Project
    Reducing health disparities in Hartford through local, cross-sector collaborations.
    Funder: CVS Foundation

HIV Risk

HIV Risk 

• Communication and Negotiation about Barrier Contraceptive Use among Young Adults at Risk: Project PHRESH.com (PI: Pamela Erickson, Co-PI: Merrill Singer). 2004-2008 
• Assessing Oral HIV Testing Among Brazilian Drug Users. (PI: Scott Clair, Co-PI: Merrill Singer). Funded by NIDA. Cooperating Institution: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, University of IOWA. 2004 – 2006.
 • Syringe Exchange Based Hepatitis B Vaccination of IDU’s. (PI: Heimer, Co-PI Merrill Singer) Funded by NIDA. 2003-2006
 • Building Community Response to Risks of Emergent Drug Use (PI: Merrill Singer, 2002- 2006) funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 
• Project CONNECT (PI: Merrill Singer) funded by Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).  2001-2003. 
• HIV and Syringe Access, Use, and Discard in the U.S. Virgin Islands (Supplement to Syringe Access, Use, and Discard). 2002-2003. 
• Pathways to High-Risk Drug Use Among Youth (PI: Jean Schensul, Co-PI: Merrill Singer) funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 1998-2001.
 • HIV Sex Risk Among Migrant Farmworkers (PI: Michael Duke) funded by the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (Yale University). 2000. 
• Intertwined Drug Epidemics: SAVA I and SAVA II (PI: Merrill Singer) funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 1997-2000.
 • The Youth AIDS Prevention Project (PI: Merrill Singer) funded by Connecticut Department of Public Health. 1995-1996 
• The Hartford Syringe Exchange Evaluation (PI: Merrill Singer) funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 1994-1997 
• Project CONNECT (PI: Merrill Singer) funded by Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). 1992-1994. 
• Project COPE II (PI: Merrill Singer) funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 1992-1997. 
• Project COPE I, a National AIDS Demonstration Research grant (PI: Merrill Singer) funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 1988-1991.
 • Risk Assessment grant (PI: Merrill Singer) funded by Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH). 1986-1988.

Drug and Alcohol

Drug and Alcohol

Adolescents y Alcohol: Environmental Influences on Puerto Rican Adolescent Drinking Behavior (PI: Merrill Singer) funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). 1984-1987

• Drug Monitoring Study (PI: Merrill Singer, 1997-1998) funded by Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH).

• Drinking Behaviors of Migrant and Non-Migrant Farmworkers (PI: Michael Duke, 2002) funded by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

• Sociocultural Factors on Syringe Sharing and HIV Risks among IDUs in Guangdong China I Study (PI: Jianghong Li, Co-PI: Merrill Singer) funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 2001-2002

• Injection Drug Use and HIV Risk in Urban China. (PI: Jianghong Li, Co-PI: Merrill Singer) funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 2003.

• Participant Perspectives on Drug-on-Drug Use/HIV Research Ethics (Celia Fisher, PI, Merrill Singer, Co-PI). Funded by NIDA. Project Dates: 9/2005-7/2008

• Migration, Alcohol Use, and HIV Risk in Rural Mexico (PI: Michael Duke). Funded by Fogarty International Center. Project Dates: February 2004- January 2006.

Nutrition

Nutrition

• Food insecurity, meal skipping, nutrient intakes and pregnancy outcomes among low-income Latinas. (PI: Perez-Escamilla, CO-PI: G. Damio). Funded by the University of Connecticut Research Foundation. Project Dates: May 2005- September 2006).

• The Monthly Cycling of Food Insecurity and Diabetes Risk. (PI: Angela BermudezMillan, 2021). Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases/NIH/DHHS.

• Feasibility and Impact of the FOOD4MOMS Produce Prescription Program among Pregnant Latina Women. (PI: Perez-Escamilla, Co-PI: Sofia Segura-Perez) Funded by USDA GusNIP. 2023-2025.

• Impact of CHW strategy on Produce Prescription Program Uptake for People with Diabetes. (PI: Perez-Escamilla, Co-PI: Sofia Segura-Perez)American Heart Association. 2024-2025.

• SWAMP Study. (PI: Kristen Cookse, Co-PI: Hassan Saleheen) Funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH). 2024-2025.

• Community-engaged research with Hispanic and Black youth to address targeted unhealthy food marketing. (PI: Frances Flemming, Co-PI: Sofia Segura-Perez). Funded by Robert Wood Johnson. 2024-2025

Maternal and Child Health

Maternal and Child Health

• Breastfeeding Education and Support Trial for Obese Women (BESTOW). (PI: Perez Escamilla). Project Dates: January 2007-May 2007. Funded by UConn Department of Nutritional Sciences.

Behavioral

Behavioral

• Guns Change the Story: Evaluation of an Intervention to Address Firearm Violence among Urban Racial and Ethnic Minority Adolescents in Urban Connecticut. (PI: Sarah Lowe, Co-PI: Hassan Saleheen). 2025-2027

• Access to Behavior Health Services for Youth of Puerto Rican Descent (PI: Michael Duke, funded by the Connecticut Health Foundation. 2002-2003

Cancer

Cancer

• Latino beliefs and challenges about cancer – focus groups for Latino community members, caregivers and people with cancer. (PI: Merrill Singer). Funded by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities. Project Dates: February 2007 – June 2007.

Access to Health

Access to Health

• Addressing Health Equity for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers (MSFWs) in Connecticut. PI: Andy Beltran, Co-PI: Sara Rodonis) 2025-2026.

• Patient Action Leaders Advancing Novel, Transformative, Equitable (PA’LANTE) Health Care . (PI: Hassan Saleheen, Co-PI: Linda Sprague Martinez). 2025-2027

• Connecticut Health Insurance Reform Project. (PI: Grace Damio, 2016). Funded by Connecticut Health Foundation.

• Evaluating Culturally Appropriate Health Care (PI: Susan Shaw) funded by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2004

Chronic Diseases

Chronic Diseases

• Stress Management Among Latinos with Type 2 Diabetes (PI: J Wagner, Co-PI: Grace Damio). Funded by CICATS at UCHC. 2010-2015

• Impact of Type 2 Diabetes Peer Counseling on Behavioral, Metabolic and Health Outcomes among Latinos. (PI: Perez-Escamilla, Grace Damio, Sheryl Horowitz, CO-PIs)

. Funded by National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities. Project Dates: February 2006 – February 2008.

Smoking

Smoking

• Second-hand Smoke and Health Risk among Puerto Rican Children (PI: Merrill Singer). Funded by CHIP University of Connecticut. Project Dates: December 2006 – December 2007