Population Research Institute: Understanding how communities, movement, and social factors shape health across ages
Official title: The Population Research Institute
Funded at Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-11616939 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Pennsylvania State University research center is studying how where people live, move, and participate in families affects health and well‑being from childhood through adulthood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project start | July 5, 2001 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $706,027 |
| NIH project number | 3P2CHD041025-25S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11616939 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include children, adolescents, and adults whose health is affected by social determinants like housing, neighborhood context, and family networks.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals whose health is not influenced by social or environmental factors, or who are not represented in the study datasets, may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses big data and population health methods to explore how neighborhoods, migration, and social networks influence health outcomes across the life course. Researchers examine how social and structural factors contribute to health disparities among different groups and generations. The work looks at how families and communities mediate changes in health and access to resources, with a focus on maternal, child, and adolescent health. By integrating biology with social environments, the Institute aims to uncover patterns that could inform policy and interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could inform neighborhood and family‑level strategies to improve health and reduce disparities across ages.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in population health and social determinants has shown meaningful links between environment, support networks, and health outcomes, supporting the potential for impactful findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State University, the
University Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thiede, Brian — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Thiede, Brian
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.