# Rio Grande Valley Cancer Health Disparity Research Center

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY · 2024 · $405,992

## Abstract

Summary
Even though psychosocial distress is recognized as a key component of cancer-related treatment and
survivorship, a 2022 review found that only 54.8% of cancer patients are screened for psychosocial distress, and
Hispanic survivors were screened at lower percentages. The mental health impact of cancer is significantly worse
for Latinos than for non-Hispanic Whites. Overall cancer-related disparities for Latina/os are disproportionately
higher in Texas and the U.S. as compared to their peers. Health outcomes in counties around the Rio Grande
Valley (RGV), a majority Hispanic population, fall in the bottom third of national health rankings, indicating lower
access to care in general and higher unmitigated risk in health behaviors, health conditions such as cancer, and,
access to mental health. Behavioral health integration in primary care is a reasonable solution to exponentially
increase access to behavioral health services for patients and to support the already overwhelmed Primary Care
Provider (PCP) workforce. The Alleviating Social and Psychological Ill-being Research and Evaluation (ASPIRE)
study will implement the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) integration model in two underserved primary
care clinics in the RGV, aimed at increasing access to behavioral health services for all health needs, with a
targeted approach to eliminating disparities in mental health support for cancer survivors and patients. As a
health services research initiative, the study will use the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation Fidelity,
and Maintenance (RE-AIM) dissemination and implementation framework to examine the overall impact of PCBH
services. Using a pragmatical trial approach, we will also evaluate a targeted, 5-visit psychological flexibility
intervention impact on psychological and biological markers. Finally, we will use focus groups with patients and
providers to examine the acceptability of PCBH services and interventions. The PCBH service aims to impact all
biopsychosocial health-related needs in primary care and aims to help the populations efficiently self-manage
their acute and chronic health conditions. Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) integration is the most
promising solution to mitigate fragmentation in care and advance timely access to behavioral health care in the
RGV.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11001859
- **Project number:** 1U54MD019970-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY
- **Principal Investigator:** Deepu George
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $405,992
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-18 → 2029-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11001859

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11001859, Rio Grande Valley Cancer Health Disparity Research Center (1U54MD019970-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11001859. Licensed CC0.

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