Research Mission
The mission of the research division of Family and Community Medicine (FCM) at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Paul L. Foster School of Medicine is to advance the science of family medicine through the generation of knowledge to improve the health of the predominantly Hispanic U.S.-Mexico border population that we serve. The division seeks to become nationally recognized among departments of family medicine for engaging in high quality primary care and population health research that improves the health of our community and eliminates disparities in health care.
A major research focus area for the division is cancer prevention and control, and this is very much in line with the institutional goals of the Center of Emphasis in Cancer, with which the department is closely aligned. Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the U.S., and is the leading cause of death among Hispanics in the U.S. Our community suffers from a disproportionately high burden of some cancers, particularly breast, liver and cervical cancer, and has lower rates of screening than other populations. Although survival from cancer has improved over time, it is very much stage-dependent, with the best hope of cure being earlier diagnosis and prevention. Current research foci include Hispanic and rural health disparities, in prevention and early detection of colorectal, breast, cervical, hepatocellular and HPV-associated cancers, and the prevention and treatment of obesity.
There is strong institutional and departmental support for the research division, and access to a diverse clinic and community population for research. The department currently has five faculty in the research division with expertise in health disparities, behavioral science, population health, health promotion, geospatial analyses, patient provider communication, health services research, and community based participatory research.
Since the research division was established in the fall of 2010, the faculty have been funded on over 20 separate grants from agencies such as the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Our grant portfolio includes a total amount of over $20 million dollars in funding.
Current/Ongoing Projects
Principal Investigator: Navkiran Shokar, M.D., M.P.H.
Funding: CPRIT (total award: $3,679,823. 2017-2020)
Co-Principal Investigators: Site PI (PI Barcey Levy) and Navkiran Shokar, M.D., M.P.H.
Funding: National Cancer Institute (total award: $1,064,111. 2017 – 2022)
Principal Investigator: Navkiran Shokar, M.D., M.P.H.
Funding: CPRIT (total award: $1,499,993. 2017-2020)
Co-Principal Investigators: Jennifer Salinas, Ph.D. and Navkiran Shokar, M.D., M.P.H.
Funding: CPRIT (total award: $1,383,722. 2018 - 2021)
Principal Investigator: Navkiran Shokar, M.D., M.P.H.
Funding: CPRIT (total award: $1,499,098. 2018 - 2021)
Co-Principal Investigators: Jennifer Molokwu, M.D., M.P.H. and Jessica Calderón-Mora, Dr.P.H.
Funding: CPRIT (total award: $1,963,826. 2019 - 2022)
Principal Investigator: Jennifer Salinas, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator: Jennifer Salinas, Ph.D.
Co-Principal Investigators: Navkiran Shokar, M.D., M.P.H. and Silvia Flores-Luevano, Ph.D.
Co-Principal Investigators: Navkiran Shokar, M.D., M.P.H., Jennifer Salinas, Ph.D. and Jessica Calderón-Mora, Dr.P.H.
Principal Investigator: Jessica Calderón-Mora, Dr.P.H.
Completed Projects
Co-Principal Investigators: Navkiran Shokar, M.D., MPH, Francois Modave, Ph.D.
Funding: NIH/NCI (total award: $386,671.00, 2013-2016)
The primary objective of this project is to develop, test and determine the feasibility of implementing a bilingual, culturally tailored and theory-based decision-support intervention targeting low literacy Hispanic populations, to facilitate high quality informed decision making at the point of care for patients, in order to increase the uptake of CRC screening. We apply new decision -theoretic methods to help patients make better-informed decisions about CRC screening, utilizing an informatics-based decision aid system.
Principal Investigator: Navkiran Shokar, M.D., MPH
Funding: CPRIT (total award: $1,098,920.00, 2013-2016)
The long term goal of BEST is to reduce the burden of breast cancer through early diagnosis and access to treatment in El Paso and Hudspeth Counties. In total, 4,000 eligible women will be offered no-cost mammography screening and diagnostic follow up, navigation and education services.
Principal Investigator: Navkiran Shokar, M.D., MPH
Funding: CPRIT (total award $1,096,011.00, 2013-2016)
De Casa En Casa is designed to reduce the burden of cervical cancer in El Paso and Hudspeth Counties through facilitating early diagnosis and access to treatment in El Paso and Hudspeth Counties. This is an innovative program that combines proven educational strategies, no cost pap and colposcopy services, navigation services and incorporates capacity building for colposcopy through enhanced faculty and resident training. The program will enroll 3,200 women in total.
Principal Investigator: Navkiran Shokar, M.D., MPH
Funding: Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (total award: $2,700,000.00)
The project goal is to reduce the burden of colorectal cancer in our community and it brings much needed resources to our area. ACCION will increase community awareness and knowledge about colorectal cancer and the importance of screening, will provide access to no-cost screening and diagnostic colonoscopy, and will increase the use of all needed follow up tests and treatment services for eligible underinsured and uninsured residents of El Paso County.
Principal Investigator: Eribeth Penaranda, M.D.
Funding: Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (total award: $1,499,195.00, 2014-2017)
This study is being conducted to combat the high incidence of cervical cancer and relatively low HPV immunization rates found within our population. The multi-faceted comprehensive program will address the unequal cervical cancer burden found in our underserved border community with the overall hope of decreasing the burden of cervical cancer in the Texas-Mexico border.
Principal Investigator: Eribeth Penaranda, M.D.
Funding: American Cancer Society-Cancer Control Career Development award for Primary Care Physicians (total award: $300,000.00, 2013-2016)
We are investigating US-Mexico border’s women attitudes towards using self-sampling method to detect cervix/vagina infections with the Human papillomavirus. This novel method has been proposed as alternative to the Pap smear as part of cervical cancer early detection programs since infection the virus has been linked to most cases of cervical cancer. The results of this research have the potential of impacting cervical cancer screening recommendations.
Principal Investigator: Gurjeet Shokar, M.D.
Funding: Health Resources & Services Administration (total award: $944,382.00, 2011-2016)
Evaluation of the impact of innovative educational initiatives targeting border health issues on medical student outcomes.
Principal Investigator: Navkiran Shokar, M.D., MPH
Funding: TMF Health Quality Institute (total awards: $40,000.00)
To evaluate the effectiveness of a 6 week diabetes education intervention (TMF Health Quality Institute Diabetes Curriculum) in managing diabetes in medically underserved populations. To asses patient knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and clinical indicators related to diabetes self management before and after intervention.
Co-Principal Investigators: Navkiran Shokar, M.D., MPH, Meredith Trubitt
To describe patient experiences and barriers to the use of web 2.0 and patient portals for patient health care needs.
Co-Principal Investigators: Navkiran Shokar, M.D., MPH, Colton Ragsdale
To understand patient attitudes and experiences with their physicians in the treatment of their obesity.
Co-Principal Investigators: Navkiran Shokar, M.D., MPH, Mary Spalding, M.D.
Ongoing evaluation of the implementation of the patient centered medical home.
Principal Investigator: Eribeth Penaranda, M.D.
Building on our preliminary work that demonstrated a positive association between the presence of the metabolic syndrome and cervical cancer cases, now we are interested in understanding its association with the Human Papillomavirus infection using secondary data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey.
Principal Investigator: Navkiran Shokar, M.D., MPH
Funding: NIH/NCI: K07 (total cost: $630,929)
To examine the mechanisms through which a person's race/ethnicity determines their colorectal cancer (CRC) screening behavior. To examine patient preference for the array of CRC screenings tests and systematically evaluate other influences on CRC screening such as health care delivery systems and physician factor. To integrate information into the design of a multi-level clinic intervention to increase CRC screening in Hispanics.
Principal Investigator: Theresa Byrd, DrPH
Funding: CDC (total cost: $1,099,900)
The purpose is to evaluate the efficacy of the AMIGAS intervention in a randomized, controlled trial. We also propose to evaluate the relative effectiveness of the core components of the intervention, and to describe the intervention characteristics, processes of delivery, and settings that facilitate program adoption, implementation, and maintenance.
Co-Principal Investigator: Theresa Byrd, DrPH subcontract MDACC
Funding: NIH/NHGRI (total direct cost: $1,315,196)
The goals of this project was to develop an interactive CD-ROM to educate Hispanic women about cancer risk and genetic testing, and to conduct a randomized, controlled evaluation that compares the efficacy of the CD-ROM program when used alone vs. when used with a promotora-assisted approach.
Principal Investigator: Navkiran Shokar, M.D., MPH
Funding: Susan G Komen Foundation (total cost: $91,174.88, 2012-2013)
Principal Investigator: Eribeth Penaranda, M.D.
Funding: American Academy of Family Physicians and Foundation Joint Grant Award (total award: $49,984.00, 2013- 2015)
The purpose is to investigate U.S.-Mexico border’s women attitudes towards using self-sampling method to detect cervix/vagina infections with the Human papillomavirus. This novel method has been proposed as alternative to the Pap smear as part of cervical cancer early detection programs since infection the virus has been linked to most cases of cervical cancer. The results of this research have the potential of impacting cervical cancer screening recommendations.
Principal Investigator: Gurjeet Shokar, M.D.
Funding: Paso Del Norte Health Foundation (total award: $110,292.71.00, 2013-2014)
This is a partnership with UTEP and UTSPH El Paso to conduct a detailed needs assessment and asset gap analysis of healthy eating and active living resources in five counties.