With a $237,500 award from the federal government, the CUNY Institute for Health Equity (CIHE) will work with the non-profit hospital network BronxCare to conduct research on substance abuse and mental health disparities in The Bronx.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service's (CMS) Minority Research Grant is a highly competitive award offered to just a handful of institutions nationally; CIHE’s proposal was among six chosen for funding in 2024. The award reinforces the Institute’s position as a leader in health disparities research.

CIHE Director Maria Isabel Roldós, along with Lehman Professors Amy White, Joseph Quinones, and Mohan Vinjamuri will work with BronxCare and providers across the borough to explore how mental health and substance abuse disorder services are utilized, including barriers to access and the cultural responsiveness of services within different communities.

"Mental health and addiction are  health priority needs for residents in the Bronx.  This collaborative project seeks to address the significant health disparities in this region,” said Roldós.  “By collaborating with BronxCare Health System, we are pairing best practices in social work research methodology with health services expertise to uncover the root causes of barriers to health services and create actionable solutions.  I’m excited to get this initiative underway and make a meaningful difference in our community, along with my co-PIs Mohan Vinjamuri, Joseph Quinones and Amy White.”    

CIHE collaborates with researchers, organizations, and institutions locally, nationally, and internationally to advance the understanding of health disparities and health equity with the goal to improve policies and practices affecting urban communities. 

This new grant comes just a few weeks after another federal grant for CIHE, a $1.25 million from the NIH to promote health research careers for Bronx high school students.