Anti-racist nature-based healing to slow cellular aging in young BIPOC adults

Examining Anti-Racist Healing in Nature to Protect Telomeres of Transitional Age BIPOC for Health Equity.

['FUNDING_U01'] · SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11370386

This project looks at whether community-led, culturally grounded nature healing programs can reduce stress and protect cellular markers of aging in transitional-age BIPOC adults.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_U01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorSAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11370386 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

You would be invited to community-prioritized nature healing activities shaped by ancestral practices from BIPOC communities and delivered in low-resource, culturally appropriate settings. Researchers will collect biological samples (such as saliva or blood) to measure stress hormones like cortisol and telomere length before and after the program. The project pairs community engagement with biological measurements to see if these interventions reduce embodied stress in young adults. The emphasis is on affordable, sustainable approaches meant to lower future chronic disease risk in BIPOC communities.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are BIPOC adults in the transitional-age range (about 21 years and older) who can attend community-based nature programs and provide biological samples.

Not a fit: People who are not BIPOC, who fall well outside the targeted age range, who cannot attend local in-person sessions, or who already have advanced chronic disease may not benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower stress and slow markers of biological aging, potentially reducing future chronic disease risk for participating BIPOC young adults.

How similar studies have performed: Past studies show nature exposure and culturally tailored programs can reduce stress and improve well-being, but using anti-racist nature healing to protect telomeres is relatively new and not yet well established.

Where this research is happening

SAN FRANCISCO, 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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.