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E-TERM – Examining Tobacco Exposure from Recreational Marijuana

The Exploring Tobacco Exposure from Recreational Marijuana use (E-TERM) is a pilot study designed to help researchers and participants better understand potential nicotine exposure among cohorts of young adults smoking marijuana in blunts or spliffs (marijuana mixed with tobacco). This study is funded by the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program. Study findings will both inform participants about their nicotine exposure and support future work to reduce preventable tobacco-related health consequences. Research was conducted in two phases.

The first was a formative phase comprised of group listening sessions and interviews exploring perceptions of risks, attitudes, and experiences associated with smoking blunts and tobacco use. In the second phase surveys were administered to record self-reported behaviors and perceptions of risk related to blunt and tobacco/nicotine use, and saliva samples collected to assess cotinine levels (an indicator of nicotine). Salivary cotinine levels were shared with study participants to help promote awareness of nicotine exposure.

Barriers and Facilitators to the PrEP Care Continuum in Long Beach, CA

This pilot study is funded by the UCLA and Charles R. Drew University Center for AIDS Research (UCLA-桃子视频 CFAR). In collaboration with the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (LBDHHS), the Comprehensive HIV Planning Group (HPG), and the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Steering Committee, the project explores key barriers and facilitators to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) access and engagement.

Research Questions Explored in This Pilot Study

1. What experiences contribute to low PrEP engagement along the care continuum among priority cohorts in Long Beach?
2. What are the gaps and feasibility considerations for providing tailored PrEP-related services among current and potential providers?
3. What strategies can effectively address these limitations?

Using both qualitative and quantitative research methods, the study engaged 45 current or potential PrEP providers through interviews and surveys. Additionally, more than 400 community members who may benefit from PrEP participated in interviews or surveys.

Research findings will be shared through academic publications and with local policymakers and health leaders to help strengthen PrEP care continuum engagement in ways that are meaningful for Long Beach residents.

Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) Institute

The Center for Health Equity Research also hosts the CHER Institute (funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences), an annual, online, week-long, rigorous research training experience for early-career faculty from low research resource institutions of higher learning from across the country. Attendees are paired with seasoned mentors to help better prepare them for NIH research support. The skills and collaboration gained in previous CHER Institutes have proven invaluable for attendees in achieving their career development and research trajectory goals.

The CHER Institute was established in 2017 and is now in its second funding cycle, offering programs aimed to enhance the readiness of early career faculty at under-resourced institutions to conduct participant-based, social and health behavior research and to increase their representation among National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded investigators.

Along with a series of webinars which provide research training and professional development opportunities to faculty at any institution, early career faculty may apply as fellows to the CHER institute’s six-day summer session where fellows receive tailored mentoring to prepare an NIH-level proposal based on their unique research questions, and professional development opportunities delivered by nationally recognized scholars.

Since its inception, the CHER Institute has trained 145 faculty fellows. Those completing the six-day session may apply for additional mentorship support from CHER Institute faculty or support for the conduct of preliminary/pilot research.

Community Wellness Program

The Community Wellness Program (CWP) is an eight-year project funded by the California Department of Public Health Office of Health Equity. CHER serves as the local evaluation team for CWP, which seeks to reduce mental health symptoms among Cambodians in the greater Long Beach and Santa Ana areas through participant-defined practices. The program offers in-language, culturally appropriate services delivered by Community Health Workers (CHWs) who share participants鈥� background and heritage. Implementation is carried out in collaboration with five community-serving organizations.

Evaluation efforts include developing data collection instruments and systems in partnership with CWP collaborators, training CHWs in survey administration, and providing ongoing technical assistance. CHER also created an online database that supports real-time collaboration, facilitates agency reporting with summarized process-level data, and allows CHWs to track program participation effectively.

Findings from the first seven years of evaluation have been shared at scientific conferences and are in preparation for publication. Results show that CWP participants experienced significant improvements in trauma symptoms, sleep quality, overall physical and mental health, social connectedness, self-perception, and trust in mental health care.