Unwinding SNAP aid and its effect on healthcare and disparities
Official title: Unwinding pandemic-era social programs: Effects on healthcare outcomes and disparities
Funded at Brandeis University · NIH-11625529 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study will look at how cutting back food assistance like SNAP changes healthcare use and outcomes, especially for people with differing levels of food insecurity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brandeis University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waltham, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $802,263 |
| NIH project number | 4R01NR021130-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11625529 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals who relied on SNAP or experienced food insecurity, and who receive or interact with Medicaid or state health services.
✕Less likely to help
People without food insecurity or not affected by SNAP changes are less likely to experience direct benefits from this study.
What this research studies
This project uses real-world data to examine how changes in nutrition assistance during the pandemic period affect people’s health care use and health outcomes. It compares groups with different exposure to food insecurity and quality of care, using robust methods to account for other factors that could influence results. Data from national Medicaid records and detailed Massachusetts data will be analyzed to understand causal impacts and how these effects vary across populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform policies to protect medical care access and reduce disparities during future changes to food assistance programs.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests SNAP can influence food security and health, but this study aims to strengthen causal inferences with natural experiments.
Where this research is happening
-
Brandeis University
Waltham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sonik, Rajan Anthony — Brandeis University
- Study coordinator: Sonik, Rajan Anthony
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.