Deep in the Heart for Women: A Community-Driven Program to Improve Heart Health in Rural South Texas
Official title: Deep in the Heart for Women: A Community-Engaged Intervention Study to Catalyze a Culture of Health in Rural South Texas
Funded at Texas A&m Agrilife Research · NIH-11411092 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community-engaged program in rural South Texas offers group classes, goal setting, and local resources to help women improve obesity and heart health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m Agrilife Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $529,004 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL179449-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411092 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are women 21+ living in rural South Texas who are interested in improving cardiovascular health and obesity-related risk factors.
✕Less likely to help
Participants not interested in lifestyle changes or unable to engage in group activities may not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project partners with local communities to tailor an obesity and cardiovascular risk-reduction program for women 21 and older in a rural area. It uses multilevel strategies, including group classes with aerobic exercise and dietary skills, led by a Community Health Worker, plus a mobile app for goal setting and self-monitoring. The study involves formative research with bilingual focus groups and advisory boards to shape the intervention and its implementation, followed by evaluating how well the program works in a real rural setting with limited medical facilities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could reduce obesity and heart disease risk among rural women by promoting healthier lifestyle habits and improving access to local resources.
How similar studies have gone: Past community-engaged health programs have shown potential in improving health behaviors in rural populations, though results vary by setting.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m Agrilife Research
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seguin-Fowler, Rebecca Anne — Texas A&m Agrilife Research
- Study coordinator: Seguin-Fowler, Rebecca Anne
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.