Strengthening health professions research at UTRGV
Official title: Reaching New Heights: Strengthening Health Professions Research at UTRGV
Funded at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · NIH-11419134 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A initiative to build capacity for research in health professions like nursing, social work, and clinical psychology at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to improve care in underserved communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Edinburg, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $358,227 |
| NIH project number | 5UC2AI188568-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419134 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals in medically underserved communities served by UTRGV who may later participate in HP-related research or benefit from improved care based on the program's outcomes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not directly engaged in health professions research activities or who do not experience changes in local care delivery may not see immediate benefits.
What this research studies
This grant aims to create a strong health professions research environment at UTRGV by engaging the local HP community in a needs assessment and developing a practical action plan. It will examine current research capacity, policies, and procedures, then propose sustainable steps to advance biomedical and clinical research relevant to underserved border communities. The project emphasizes collaboration across disciplines to produce high-quality, impactful findings that can shape care delivery and health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients in medically underserved areas could benefit from stronger, faster-moving research that informs better clinical practices and health policies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts to strengthen research capacity in health professions have shown that building institutional support and cross-disciplinary collaboration can enhance translation to practice.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lehker, Michael W. — University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Study coordinator: Lehker, Michael W.
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.