A community-health partnership to study how food support affects health
Official title: A clinical-community partnership to understand health impacts of a food insecurity intervention
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11370020 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused study will look at how coordinated food insecurity interventions affect health in diverse groups, aiming to improve wellbeing and reduce health care use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $554,012 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NR021522-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370020 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults and children experiencing food insecurity who are receiving health care or connected through community organizations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing food insecurity or not engaged with the health care system may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project teams up clinicians and community organizations to study how food insecurity interventions delivered through health care settings impact health outcomes over time. It uses real-world data and collaborative approaches to understand what works best for patients with varied ages and backgrounds. The researchers will follow participants through the intervention to see changes in health and health care needs, with an emphasis on practical, patient-centered results.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could show how to integrate food support into care plans to improve health and lower costs for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests food support can influence health, but results vary; this project seeks to clarify effective approaches in diverse populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Byhoff, Elena — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Byhoff, Elena
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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-
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-
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-
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This project tests whether eating at pay-what-you-can cafes improves blood pressure and heart- disease related outcomes for hypertensive adults who face food insecurity.
-
Addressing Food Insecurity for Youth with Diabetes in Clinical Care
A study tests a social work–led program to screen for social needs like food insecurity and connect families of children with type 1 diabetes to community resources through their health care clinic.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.