Solar power and chronic disease care for older Puerto Ricans
Official title: Disasters, solar energy, and chronic disease management in aging Puerto Ricans
Funded at Florida International University · NIH-11250091 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how access to solar power helps people 50 and older in Puerto Rico manage long-term conditions like diabetes, kidney, and lung disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida International University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Miami, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $598,906 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG072613-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11250091 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Puerto Ricans aged 50 or older living in communities adopting solar energy, especially those with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or chronic respiratory conditions.
✕Less likely to help
People under 50, those without chronic conditions, or residents outside Puerto Rico or in communities without solar initiatives are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
I am an older Puerto Rican living with chronic illness and this project follows communities that are introducing solar power to see how that change affects day-to-day care. The team partners with the community organization Casa Pueblo to document how solar technology is introduced, how people are trained to use it, and how energized communal points are used during outages. Researchers will talk with patients, caregivers, community leaders, and local agencies and will collect systematic information about community traits like collective identity and individualism that might help or hurt chronic disease management. The work focuses on practical issues such as keeping medications refrigerated, powering medical devices, and maintaining access to care during and after disasters.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help shape local programs and policies that use solar energy to reduce health risks for older adults during power outages.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies indicate that energy independence can improve health after disasters, but using community solar adoption specifically to support chronic disease management in aging Puerto Ricans is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Florida International University
Miami, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Varas-Diaz, Nelson — Florida International University
- Study coordinator: Varas-Diaz, Nelson
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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.