A statewide community plan to improve heart health and cancer outcomes through better diet and activity
Official title: Evaluating a Statewide Community Intervention Model to Address Cardiovascular Risk, Diet, and Physical Activity
Funded at Brown University · NIH-11342062 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A statewide program in Rhode Island tests a community approach to make healthier eating and more physical activity easier, with goals to improve heart health and cancer-related risk factors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $801,800 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL185682-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11342062 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults in Rhode Island communities participating in HEZ-supported programs who are engaged in efforts to improve diet and physical activity.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not participating in HEZ activities or living in areas without HEZ intervention may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will look at how community intermediary organizations implement evidence-based policies to help people eat better and move more in 14 Rhode Island communities. Researchers will measure changes in diet quality, physical activity, and cardiovascular risk factors, using a retrospective stepped-wedge design and the RE-AIM framework to understand reach, effectiveness, and adoption. The study focuses on real-world settings, backed by local backbone organizations that tailor programs to community needs. It aims to show whether the Health Zones model can produce meaningful improvements in diet, activity, and heart-health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could become a scalable model to improve diet, activity, and cardiovascular health in diverse communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests community-based, multi-sector approaches can influence health behaviors, though results vary by setting and implementation.
Where this research is happening
-
Brown University
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tovar, Alison — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Tovar, Alison
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cardiovascular risk planning and reduction for men with prostate cancer
A program to better predict and reduce heart disease risk in men treated for prostate cancer, especially older patients.
-
Traumatic Stress, Epigenetic Aging, and Heart Risk in Veterans
A large study using Veterans Affairs data to see if traumatic stress and faster biological aging relate to higher risk of stroke and heart disease.
-
Lifestyle plan to protect muscle and heart health for adults with obesity using GLP-1 medications
A real-world trial tests a combined nutrition and resistance-training program versus standard care for adults starting GLP-1 weight loss drugs to preserve lean mass and cardiovascular health.
-
Role of the body's natural cannabis-like system in diabetes progression and heart risk
This grant studies how the body's endocannabinoid system affects the progression from obesity to diabetes and the associated risk for cardiovascular disease in adults.
-
Community and Peer Support for Reducing Cardiovascular Risk
Aims to understand how community and peer programs can help people lower cardiovascular risk, by analyzing existing programs and how their implementation and social support influence outcomes.
-
CardioPredict ML: A smarter way to gauge heart risk before pregnancy
A machine learning tool helps identify women at risk for pregnancy-related heart problems before conception, using health records and prior pregnancy data.
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.