1. Border Health Research Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Research Assessment Program November 9, 2006 University of Texas at El Paso

2. Roberto A, Osegueda Vice President for Research Harry Meeuwsen Interim Dean College of Health Sciences Robert Anders Dean School of Nursing Director Hispanic Health Disparities Research Center Pablo Arenaz Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School Director Border Biomedical Research Center Michael Eastman Dean College of Sciences

3. Introduction The border health program is a recognized resource for the region and also represents a vital state and national resource. Many of the health problems once identified only with border regions are now found throughout the U.S. UTEP’s program in Border Health Research is gaining national recognition as a result of the importance of Border Health in Texas and overall impact on national health problems related to Mexican immigration throughout the United States. New initiatives from state and national levels to strengthen the capacity of universities to achieve their goals in both border health research and education must be forthcoming

4. Major Health-Related Extramural funding

5. Border Health Research Mission Provide the investment needed for the support of interdisciplinary bioscience and health science research in the pursuit of applied and clinical solutions to health related problems of the U.S./Mexico border region. The goals are to increase the knowledge and the research base Specific objectives include –develop new and support existing interdisciplinary basic, applied, and clinical research programs that are related to border health and environmental problems –to recruit and invest in new and existing biology/health science faculty whose research agendas fit the border health program –and to seek external funding required to support research on border health issues.

6. History Created in FY 2002 Original purpose –Provide support for public service related to health and environmental problems that disproportionately affect Hispanics and residents in general of the U.S./Mexico border region Expanded purposes –continue to emphasize border health challenges, developing both faculty and graduate research –new emphasis on countering the threat of bio-terrorism (BT), in collaboration with UTMB –working with the El Paso City/County Health Department Regional Laboratory to coordinate responses to BT threats.

7. The Border Biomedical Research Center has been the centerpiece to leverage and build capacity for the conduct of biomedical research. The College of Health Sciences and the School of Nursing have been used as the foundation to build capacity and increase productivity in areas of public health. CHS has also provided a foundation for expanding public health and clinical research programs through the Hispanic Health Disparities Research Center and helps coordinate health-related research in a number of departments at UTEP (e.g., the institution’s Interdisciplinary Health Forum). Faculty members in the BBRC and CHS have been joined by colleagues in chemistry, engineering and liberal arts in the border health research effort.

8. Organization Prior to September 1, 2006 Dean of College of Health Science Dean of College of Science Border Health Research Provost Office Vice President for Research Border Biomedical Research Center Biological Sciences Dept. School of Nursing Hispanic Health Disparities Research Center President

9. Organization After September 1, 2006 Dean of College of Health Science Dean of College of Science Border Health Research Provost Vice President for Research Border Biomedical Research Center School of Nursing Hispanic Health Disparities Research Center The Border Health Research Program integrates two centers on the campus President

10. Hispanic Health Disparity Research Center In partnership with the UT Houston School of Public Health Mentoring and training through collaboration across academic institutions Health researchers focused on Hispanic health disparities Innovation in health disparities research. Funded by NIH, DHHS and National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparity. http://hhdrc.utep.edu/

11. Hispanic Health Disparities Research Center (HHDRC) Primary purpose is to facilitate research related to Border health disparities. The HHDRC has administrative, research and dissemination cores Include faculty from both UTEP and the University of Texas at Houston Health Science Center, School of Public Health. Through the cores and support staff, the Center provides infrastructure support for researchers, pilot funding for promising research, mentoring, and assistance with disseminating research findings. HHDRC has a national Advisory Board of experts related to Hispanic health disparities and research methodologies. The Center holds an Annual Summer Institute that features faculty development activities presented by leading experts in Hispanic health disparities.

12. Border Biomedical Research Center The mission of the BBRC is to facilitate and expand the pathobiology research at UTEP by strengthening the research infrastructure of the institution. The BBRC, through collaborative efforts with nearby institutions, has become the focal point of pathobiology research that addresses the biomedical and health issues of the bicultural population of the El Paso/Ciudad Juarez region of the Texas-Mexico border. The BBRC has a formal advisory committee that includes local, national, and international experts on health issues affecting the Texas – Mexico border region. The entire committee meets once a year to review the accomplishments of the BBRC and its faculty and to provide direction for future efforts. Local board members participate in additional meetings through the year. http://research.utep.edu/Default.aspx?alias=research.utep.edu/bbrc

13. BHR Funds

14. Border Health - FTE

15. FTE’s

16. People supported by BHR Lisa Bain, Associate Professor of Biology (FY 2004, 2005) Maria Duarte-Gardea, Assistant Professor of Health Promotion (FY 2004 and 2005) Patrick Gurian, Assist. Prof. in Civil Engineering (Public Health) -- Departed in Aug. 2004 (FY 2004) Wen-Yee Lee, Asst. Prof., Environmental Chemistry (FY 2004, 2005 and 2006) Juan C. Noveron, Asst. Prof., Chemistry (FY 2004, 2005, 2006) John Walton, Prof. of Environmental Engineering (FY 2004) Jianging Zhang, Asst. Prof, Biology (FY 2004) Rodrigo Armijos, Clinical Research Professor, College of Health Sciences (FY 2005), Maria Amaya, Professor of Nursing (FY 2006) Armando Gonzalez, Research Prof., College of Health Science, Pharmacy (FY 2006) Jorge Ibarra, Research Professor, College of Health Science (FY 2006) Rosana Lopes, Assist. Research Prof., Clinical Laboratory Sciences, CHS (FY 2006) John Bretting, Assoc. Prof., Master of Public Administration (FY 2006) William Lewis, Lecturer, Clinical Laboratory Sciences (FY 2006)

17. Lisa Bain Determining ATP-dependent transport protein regulation and how this affects the metabolism, disposition, and elimination of drugs and toxicants Elucidating how metals and pesticides in the Rio Grande are impacting aquatic and human health Using cDNA arrays to ascertain what genes are being altered after exposure to metals and PAHs Funded by NIH and NIEHS

18. Nutrition Education During Pregnancy In Mexican American Women (Funding: NIH/NCMHD) –Studying the effectiveness of a culturally sensitive nutrition education program in Mexican American pregnant women –Results will help design culturally sensitive programs to improve pregnancy outcomes Health Effects Of Chronic Exposure To Fluoride In Drinking Water In Northern Mexico (Funding: SCERP/ US EPA) –Evaluating health effects of chronic fluoride exposure from drinking water in adolescents living in Villa Ahumada, Chihuahua Mexico –Results may impact public policy regarding fluoride levels in drinking water Maria Duarte, PhD, RD Department of Health Promotion Maria Duarte-Gardea

19. A Pilot Study To Investigate the Associations of Fiber and Estrogen Levels In Mexican and Mexican American Women (Funding: Center for Border Health Research) –Studying women’s consumption of fiber and incidences of breast cancer in Mexican American population –Results may help design nutrition education programs focused in the prevention of breast cancer Maria Duarte, PhD, RD Department of Health Promotion Maria Duarte-Gardea

20. Patrick Gurian (Community-Based Public Health Research) Patrick Gurian worked on a variety of community-based public health projects, mainly in peri-urban, low-income, disadvantaged and under-served neighborhoods on both sides of the border. Assessed household behaviors and environmental health conditions in targeted communities, and developed responsive training programs that emphasized train-the-trainer concepts using appropriate technologies, culturally-appropriate language, and readily affordable and available resources. Dr. Patrick Gurian Assist. Prof. Civil Engineering In collaboration with CERM, College of Engineering, College of Health Sciences, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, the Center for Border Health Research, Johnson and Johnson, the UT Houston School of Public Health, and the Southwest Consortium for Environmental Health and Policy (SCERP),

21. Community-Based Public Health Research (cont’d) In one project he assessed the significant health risks of winter-time carbon monoxide poisoning in Ciudad Juarez (annually more people died of CO poisoning in Juarez than in all the United States) and helped design an appropriate and effective public health outreach program. In areas without water service he assessed small, multi-household water treatment systems as well as solar composting toilets and other waterless onsite sanitation systems. Dr. Patrick Gurian Civil Engineering

22. Wen-Yee Lee Wen-Yee Lee (Env. Chemistry) Wen-Yee Lee, Ph.D. Env. Chemistry Assistant Professor Dr. Lee studies fate and transport of persistent organic pollutants (POPS) in soil, air, and water/sediment, with a special emphasis on the impact of dietary and non-dietary exposure to POPs on public health. Mechanism of plant uptake of POPs. Phytoremediation/Bioremediation for POPs Current Funding: Department of Energy SCERP/EPA Significance: POPs persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food chain, and have endocrine-disrupting and other toxic effects on biota. On-going efforts are focus on understanding the cycling of POPs in the environment and their impact on human health.

23. Juan Noveron Juan Noveron (Gene Capsules for DNA Vaccines) Development of novel metal-mediated gene transfection systems for eukaryotic cells. These gene-delivery nanosystems will have applications towards a rapid and cost-effective production of vaccines. Juan C. Noveron, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Chemistry Lizanell & Colbert Coldwell Foundation Grant American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Grant Award Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory Award National Institute of Health (GM66504-01)

24. X-ray Guided Design of Programmable Gene Capsules  Redox-active  Protein-coated  Intracellular-activation  Catalytic surface TEM Hepatitis B Virus Efficient delivery of Antigen Genes (7 – 15 Kbp Long) Cell-selectivity in Vivo [M] n+ 100 nm 36 % AFM X-ray Methods protein-coated DNA Potential Fast- and cost- effective vaccination Nanomaterials

25. Dr. John Walton (Env. Science & Eng.) Correlation of Ambient Particle Composition with Cytokine Induction in Cultured Lung Cells EPA-funded project with Univ. of Utah Integrated field ambient sampling and cell culture laboratory study Particulate matter in the Paso del Norte air shed Do chemical speciation measurements of ambient particulate matter (PM) correlate with cell culture assays used to assess the ability of particles to induce pro-inflammatory signaling (cytokines) in lung cells? John Walton, Ph.D. Civil Eng. Professor

26. Jianying Zhang (Cancer) Laboratory interests include the identification and characterization of cancer-related antigens, autoantibodies to cancer-associated antigens as markers for cancer diagnosis, and epidemiologic studies relating genetic, environmental, dietary and lifestyle factors to the etiology of liver cancer in Hispanic populations. Jianying Zhang Assistant Professor Biological Sciences

27. Rodrigo Armijo Rodrigo Armijo Community health and development Prevention, treatment and control of parasitic and other infectious diseases Development & clinical/field evaluation of vaccines, diagnostic product, & treatments Dr, Armijo’s activities are also international Rodrigo X. Armijos, MD, ScD Clinical Research Professor Department of Health Promotion Immunology & Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases "Impact of Nutritional Supplementation for Improving the Nutritional Status, Cellular Immnune Response, and Clinical Outcomes of Hispanic Patients Treated for Tuberculosis with Short-Course DOTS Therapy"; NIH/NCMHD Hispanic Health Disparities Research Center, 2004-2006.

28. Maria Amaya (Environmental Health Research) Project leader in externally funded projects over $2 million dollars Contributor in externally funded projects totaling $11.5 million dollars Dr. Amaya’s research has focused on environmental health and the associations with soil and air quality in border populations. Amaya & colleagues pioneered interdisciplinary NIH funded teams at UTEP. Her expertise is in environmental epidemiology. She is a charter member of NIH Community Level Health Promotion (CLHP) Review Panel, and Wakefield Professor of Health Sciences. Maria Amaya, PhD, WHCNP Professor, School of Nursing Principal Investigator “Encuentros: Binational Community Lead Project”, NIEHS (R01) $1.75 M “UTEP-UNM HSC ARCH Program on Border Asthma: Core Project”, NIEHS (S11) $5.1 million

29. Armando González Stuart, Ph.D. Researcher in herbal medicine (phytotherapy) Educating Seniors about the Risks of Polypharmacy and Polyherbacy in the Paso del Norte Region (Funded) Traditional Foods and Healthy Nutrition (Funded) Research interests include: Potential herb-drug interactions Toxic plants and fungi Complementary and Alternative Therapies Ethnobotany www.herbalsafety.utep.edu Research Prof., College of Health Sciences Pharmacy Program

30. Jorge Ibarra, MD, MPH Collaborated with Dr. Robert Anders in a multistate pilot study on The Food Pyramid: WIC Women Knowledge and Use. Data analysis in progress. Collaborated with Dr. Anders in the US-MX Minority Health International Research Training Program (MHIRT). Data analysis in progress. Project in progress. Collaborated with Dr. Robert Anders in a proposal, Multistate Peer Nutrition Education Trial among Latina WIC Participants. Funding Pending. Collaborated with Dr. Cardenas in a letter of intent on RFT: Effect of H. Pylori Eradication on Iron Levels in US-MX Border Adults. Proposal in progress. Research Professor College of Health Sciences.

31. Collaborators: Erik L. Hewlett, MD, UVA; Gilbert A. Handal, MD, Texas Tech HSC; Armando Campos, MD, IMSS Rosana Lopes, PhD Research Assist. Prof. Clinical Laboratory Sciences Rosana Lopes Dr. Lopes works in collaboration with Dr. Delfina Dominguez Incidence of Pertussis among Children with Persistent cough in the El Paso del Norte Region and Variation in Bordetella pertussis genes –Studying incidence of pertussis by analyzing Bordetellae isolates for gene polymorphisms encoding two virulence factors: pertactin (prnA) and pertussis toxin (ptxA) –This research is in progress and would provide epidemiological data for the identification of pertussis cases and prevention of the infection. Delfina C. Domínguez, Ph.D., Associate Prof. Clinical Lab. Sciences

32. John Bretting Specialized training: Women and Politics, Race and Ethnic Politics, Research Designs, Survey Research Methods, Field Research Methods, and Intergovernmental Relations. Development of Social Census indicators for El Paso’s –El Segundo Barrio including measures for a US/Mexico borderland community’s health care, social well-being, and economic well-being. Co- director – Spring 2006 PAD 5367- Capstone Experience –”El Segundo Barrio and La Fe’s Community Development Corporation: An Analysis of Current Conditions, Strengths, and Opportunities” including implementation and analysis of basic social census indicators. Assoc. Prof., Master of Public Administration Program Institute of Policy and Economic Development

33. Summary The goals and objectives of the Border Health Research funding program are being met, thus helping the University continue building its Health-related programs New opportunities have arisen and have been used to leverage university resources to increase capacity, breadth, and quality of border health research and education programs. Also, additional new faculty have been recruited that have brought to UTEP, not only new federally funded grants, but the opportunity to build major competitive research programs with special focus on border health issues. These new acquisitions have prompted UTEP to increase the capacity and quality of its research facilities and administrative infrastructure to support research and related educational activities (e.g., the new biosciences facility).

34. Summary The purpose of providing support for public service related to health and environmental problems that disproportionately affect Hispanics and residents in the U.S./Mexico Border Region are being met UTEP is responding to the region’s critical need for healthcare professionals by establishing a number of health professions education program. To complement its education endeavors, and in consideration of the potential for growth and development of a local healthcare industry to support the region’s economic development, UTEP organized its research capabilities to provide a platform to launch what is now one of its most rapidly growing and visible areas—border health research.

35. Summary The ability of UTEP’s biomedical and behavioral scientists to attract major extramural funding from federal sources on a competitive basis to promote research on border health, speaks highly of the program’s general technical excellence, widely focused investigative capabilities and the overall quality of UTEP research facilities and administrative support infrastructure.