By working together, we seek to understand the challenges facing our community and find innovative solutions to improve health.
Our Proven Track Record
Using CBPR as an approach, we have a proven track-record of addressing health issues among difficult-to-reach, minority and disadvantaged populations because it accounts for the multiplicity of factors that contribute to health and well-being. See our publications below.
Principal Investigators
Professor of Medicine and Consultant
in the Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases, and Occupational Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota where she provides specialty consultative service in infectious diseases. With Julie Nigon and Jenny Weis, they founded Rochester Healthy Community Partnership in 2004. Her work focuses on reducing health inequities by engaging with the community and utilizing community-based participatory research. In the Philippines, where she is from, Irene and her siblings created the BenTeCK Memorial Foundation honoring their parents. The foundation provides college and vocational scholarships for youths from indigent families, supports religious vocations, and grants charity care to those in need.
Professor of Medicine and Chair of the Division of Community Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he is a practicing primary care physician. His interest in community-based participatory research was sparked by public health training in Chicago. After arrival to Rochester for residency in 2005, he was introduced to Irene Sia, Jenny Weis, and Julie Nigon and became involved in their work at Hawthorne Education Center. This was the beginning of collaboration that would become central to Mark’s career. His work with Rochester Healthy Community Partnership has spanned all of its projects over the years to address health in Rochester and beyond.
Secured funding totaling approximately $8 million, along with extensive in-kind support from its community and academic partners.
Inclusion of more than 3,500 research participants from diverse backgrounds, mostly those traditionally underrepresented in research.
Publication of more than 60 peer-reviewed articles co-authored by community and academic partners.
BY THE NUMBERS
FUNDING SOURCES
NIAID R03 AI082703
Partners in Research: Building partnerships to promote health in low literacy populations
PI: IG Sia, J Nigon September
2008 – August 2011
NIAID R03 AI0827003-02S1
NIH Recovery Act (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) Building partnerships to promote health in low literacy populations Coordinator Administrative Supplement
Program PI: IG Sia
July 2009 - September2010
NIAID R03 AI0827003-01S1
NIH Recovery Act (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) Building partnerships to promote health in low literacy populations Summer Research Experience Program
PI: IG Sia
July 2009 - September2010
NHLBI R01 HL111407
Healthy Immigrant Families: Working together to move more and to eat well
PI: IG Sia, J Nigon, ML Wieland
December 2011 – December 2018
NIDDK DK113999-01A1
Stories for Change: Digital storytelling for diabetes self-management
PI: IG Sia, ML Wieland
June 2018 – May 2024
NIMHD P50 MD17342
Healthy Immigrant Community: Mobilizing the power of social networks
PI: IG Sia, ML Wieland
Funded through: Center for Chronic Disease Reduction and Equity Promotion Across Minnesota (C2DREAM) C2DREAM
PI: ML Allen, R Hardeman, CA Patten
September 2021 – June 2026
NIMHD K23 MD017217-01A1
Working to Eliminate Care Disparities in Liver
Cancer in Southeast Asian Americans: Transportation and Other Social Determinants of Health
PI: N Tran
September 2022 – June 2027
NIDDK F32 DK135200
Factors influencing positive change in glycemic control and Type 2 diabetes self-management behavior among Latinx individuals in a digital storytelling intervention: A mixed-methods study
PI: A Lohr
December 2023 – November 2026
Grant awards from the National Institutes of Health and other federal awards
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act under Award Number R03 AI0827003-01S1
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act under Award Number R03 AI0827003-01S2
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute under Award Number R01 HL111407
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases under Award Number R03 AI082703
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases under Award Number R01 DK113999
Center for Chronic Disease Reduction and Equity Promotion Across Minnesota (C2DREAM) funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities under Award Number P50MD017342
Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCaTS) funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences under Award Number UL1TR002377-07
Several entities within Mayo Clinic have provided grant/financial and in-kind support.
Clinical Trial Stimulus Funding
Community Relations
Department of Development
Department of Medicine
Division of Community Internal Medicine, Palliative Medicine, and Geriatrics
Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases, and Occupational Medicine
Values Council
Other sponsors include
George Family Foundation (Catalyst Award to Somali Community Resettlement Services)
Minnesota Department of Health (COVID-19 Response to Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association)
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (Town Meeting Initiative to Hawthorne Education Center)
Winona State University Foundation
Contact a Researcher
RHCP is comprised of many community and academic leaders who are experts in their fields. If you are interested in connecting with one of our researchers, please email us!