Disease-specific Research
The Center is actively engaged in efforts to work in the areas of cardiovascular disease prevention, hepatitis B and cancer.
Cardiovascular Disease
Project AsPIRE
(Asian American Partnerships in Research & Empowerment)is a
health initiative that brings together community members and academic
researchers to improve cardiovascular health, particularly hypertension,
for Filipino Americans living in New York and New Jersey.
Principal Investigator:
Mariano Rey, MD
Project Director:
Rhodora Ursua, MPH
Project Partners:
NYU CSAAH
Kalusugan Coalition
Darius Tandon, PhD (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)
Funding By:
NIH
National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities
Program Goals:
- A culturally and linguistically appropriate community health worker
intervention
- Community health needs and resource assessment on cardiovascular health
- Infrastructure to facilitate partnership building between academic institutions, concerned individuals, community based organizations, and healthcare agencies
In New York City (NYC), the burden of hepatitis B infection within
the Asian American community is disproportionately high. This
burden falls heavily on the vulnerable group of immigrants from parts
of Asia where this infection is endemic. The
Asian American Hepatitis B Program (AAHBP) is a coalition of New
York City institutions and citizens dedicated to reducing the burden
of hepatitis B infection in the Asian American community through increased
awareness, outreach, education, screening, vaccination and follow-up
care.
Administrative PI:
Mariano Rey, MD
Co-PIs:
Henry Pollack, MD
Alex Sherman, MD
Hillel Tobias, MD
Thomas Tsang, MD
Program Director :
Ruchel Ramos, MPA
Funding by:
New York City Council
American Liver Foundation
Program Goals:
- Raise the awareness level of hepatitis B and hepatitis B-related diseases among Asian Americans in New York City by conducting a linguistically and culturally sensitive educational media campaign
- Over three years, screen approximately 5,000 Asian Americans for the hepatitis B virus at health education events and on a drop-in basis at community-based health care centers and social service organizations located throughout New York City in areas where this target population resides and works.
- Offer post-screening hepatitis B vaccination for persons who are susceptible to hepatitis B virus (HBV) exposure and infection
- Provide comprehensive post-screening clinical evaluation, care and treatment to individuals infected with HBV at family-oriented centers that are culturally and linguistically appropriate to serve the Asian American community
Long Term Objectives:
- Obtain accurate information about the epidemiology of hepatitis B infection in the Asian American community in NYC
- Identify latent infection in the community
- Assess the burden and cost of HBV infection within the Asian American community in NYC
- Evaluate the most effective ways of increasing awareness of health issues in the Asian American community
- Help develop guidelines for screening and management of hepatitis B infection in New York City and nationally
- Support collaborative research in hepatitis B infection