A program to enhance health informatics education through community engagement.

Place-based Culturally Responsive Health Informatics Research Education (PHIRE) Program

NIH-funded research University of Arizona · NIH-10914879

This study is all about helping college students learn about health by connecting them with their communities, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, so they can tackle real health issues together.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Arizona NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Tucson, United States)
Project IDNIH-10914879 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This program focuses on improving health informatics education by connecting students with their local communities and cultures. It aims to recruit and train a diverse group of undergraduate students, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, to engage in real-world health challenges. By integrating local environmental and health needs into the curriculum, the program fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students will learn through a place-based educational approach that emphasizes the importance of community in biomedical research.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this program are undergraduate students, especially first-generation college students, interested in health informatics and community health.

Not a fit: Patients who are not students or who do not reside in the Tucson area may not benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly increase diversity in the health informatics field and improve health outcomes in local communities.

How similar studies have performed: Similar educational programs that focus on community engagement and diversity have shown success in enhancing student participation and retention in biomedical fields.

Where this research is happening

Tucson, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.