Inflammatory Markers, Hazardous Air Pollutants, and Psychosocial Factors Hazardous Air Pollutants, Positivity, and Inflammation (HAPPI) Study Background American Indian women in southeastern North Carolina have higher cardiovascular mortality rates than White or African American women. Inflammatory processes may underlie racial disparities in cardiovascular outcomes and may be critical to understanding population-specific drivers and potential buffers … Read more

  Dr. Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, UNC CHER Faculty, is a part of The COVID Prison Project, which tracks data and policy across the country to monitor COVID-19 in correctional facilities. Justice-involved individuals in congregate living facilities are at a high risk of exposure to COVID-19. With the recent outbreaks in North Carolina and Ohio facilities, there … Read more

Healthcare Coordination and Transition for Individuals with Genetic Conditions Objective This study aimed to examine insurance coverage, use of the healthcare system, satisfaction with care, transition from pediatric to adult healthcare services, and social and emotional support for individuals with genetic conditions. In June 2013, the National Genetics Education and Consumer Network surveyed US individuals … Read more

Formerly Incarcerated Transitions for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (FIT for PrEP) Background The HIV prevalence among the prison population is 3-5 times greater than the non-incarcerated population. Prisoners disproportionately come from groups with the highest rates of HIV (e.g. people who use drugs, racial-ethnic minorities, lower socioeconomic status individuals). Further, people in prison are more likely to … Read more

Center for Aids Research (CFAR) Development Award Background Opioid use has risen at an alarming rate in recent years. This epidemic of opioid misuse and abuse has led to increased numbers of people who inject drugs (PWID), placing new populations at increased risk for HIV. In North Carolina, the rate of HIV is four times … Read more

TCN PATHS Transitions Clinic Network: Post Incarceration Addiction Treatment, Healthcare, and Social Supports Background In 2016, at least 20% of people with opioid use disorder (OUD) were involved in the criminal justice system (approximately 600,000 individuals), with most individuals cycling through jails. Opioid overdose is the leading cause of death and a common cause of … Read more

SPECS Study on Personal Experiences with Accessing Care in the South Background One in 100 individuals in the United States (US) are under community supervision (e.g. parole) by the criminal justice (CJ) system. Black and Hispanic individuals, sexual and gender minorities, underserved rural populations, and the socioeconomically disadvantaged (all NIH-designated health disparity populations) are disproportionately … Read more

PIERS STUDY Providing Interventions to Enhance Recovery in Community Supervision (PIERS) A JCOIN Initiative     Background Opioid use disorder and associated overdose deaths have risen at an alarming rate in recent years and in 2017 exceeded all other years in recorded history. More than 50% of incarcerated individuals have a history of substance use … Read more

Combining Cohorts for Equity: Understanding Comorbidities in Diverse Women   Background Women make up a quarter of people with HIV in the US, and the majority of women living with HIV (WLHIV) are Black and/or Latina. Among WLHIV whose gender identity aligns with their sex at birth (ciswomen), 59% are Black and 19% are Latina. … Read more

TRANSforming the Carolinas Background HIV incidence among transgender women is estimated to be as high 2.8 new cases of HIV per 100 people each year. Nationwide, 44% of Black transgender women and 26% of transgender Latina women are living with HIV. It is estimated that 3% of transgender men are living with HIV. This is … Read more