Nature-Based Healing to Protect Health in Young Adults of Color
Official title: Examining Anti-Racist Healing in Nature to Protect Telomeres of Transitional Age BIPOC for Health Equity.
Funded at San Francisco State University · NIH-11362955 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how spending time in nature, guided by cultural wisdom, can help young Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) reduce stress and improve their long-term health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Francisco State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $412,471 |
| NIH project number | 5U01ES036366-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362955 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future related opportunities would be transitional-age Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) who are interested in community-based, nature-focused health interventions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not in the transitional age range or those not identifying as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color may not directly benefit from this specific focus.
What this research studies
Many communities of color face higher rates of chronic diseases due to long-standing health inequalities and the stress of racism. This stress can even affect our cells, specifically by shortening protective caps on our DNA called telomeres, which are linked to aging and disease. Our project aims to work with BIPOC communities to develop and test culturally relevant ways to use nature for healing. We hope these approaches will help young BIPOC adults reduce stress and protect their telomeres, ultimately preventing chronic diseases as they get older.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could offer new, accessible ways for young BIPOC adults to manage stress and improve their health, potentially reducing their risk of chronic diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Emerging research, including from this team, suggests a link between stress, racism, and accelerated telomere erosion in communities of color, providing a foundation for this intervention.
Where this research is happening
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San Francisco State University
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marquez-Magana, Leticia Maria — San Francisco State University
- Study coordinator: Marquez-Magana, Leticia Maria
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.