How discrimination and environmental racism add stress to the bodies of Latino youth
Allostatic Load in Latino Youth (ALLY) study: The Role of Discrimination and Environmental Racism
Looks at how discrimination and environmental racism put chronic stress on the body and may raise future diabetes risk for Latino adolescents and young adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California State University Northridge NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Northridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11124735 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will ask about your experiences of racial or ethnic discrimination and about neighborhood or environmental conditions, and collect health information and biological samples. They will measure multiple stress-related biomarkers (an allostatic load profile) from blood and other tests alongside surveys to create a combined stress score. The team will link these biological measures to the social and environmental experiences reported by Latino youth to identify patterns tied to higher cardiometabolic risk. Findings aim to highlight which stressors most strongly relate to early signs of diabetes risk so prevention efforts can be better targeted.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Latino/Hispanic adolescents and young adults (roughly ages 12–21) who can complete surveys and provide blood or other biospecimens are the ideal participants.
Not a fit: People who are not Latino/Hispanic or those seeking immediate clinical treatment for diabetes are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help identify biological signs of stress that predict higher diabetes risk in Latino youth and point to prevention strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked chronic stress and elevated allostatic load to greater cardiometabolic risk, but applying detailed discrimination-focused allostatic profiling specifically in Latino youth is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Northridge, United States
- California State University Northridge — Northridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Toledo-Corral, Claudia Michele — California State University Northridge
- Study coordinator: Toledo-Corral, Claudia Michele
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 below.