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College of Health Professions
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    About

    The College of Health Professions at UTRGV offers diverse programs in health sciences, research, and community initiatives. Learn more about how we are advancing healthcare education and serving communities across South Texas and beyond.

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    Explore The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s College of Health Professions, offering diverse, high-quality programs in physical therapy, rehabilitation, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, nutrition, health sciences, and more. Join innovative faculty and programs committed to empowering students, promoting health equity, and transforming regional and global communities.

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    Discover resources at UTRGV's College of Health Professions to support student success, including academic programs, internships, health insurance information, counseling services, and more. Explore opportunities in healthcare education, research, and leadership with the Texas Society of Allied Health Professions and UTRGV's diverse health services.

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  • Research and Grant Opportunities
    • AMA Joan F. Giambalvo Fund for the Advancement of Women
    • American College Health Foundation (various awards)
    • Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP)
      • Award for Institutional Excellence and Innovation in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Health Care
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      • Research
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      • Distinguished Service Award

  • American Academy of Physician Associates (various awards) 
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science (various awards) 
  • American Counseling Association (various awards) 
  • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (various awards) 
  • Association of Audiology (various awards) 
  • Association on Higher Education & Disability 
  • National Society of Allied Health Faculty Development Award 

 

COHP Research Council is one of the standing committees of the college, focusing on improving the research capacity of faculty and staff. The Council meets monthly. 

  • Dr. Roy Upal, Committee Chair  
  • Vacant, Secretary  
  • Dr. Kim Nguyen-Finn, School of Rehabilitation and Counseling Click Here 
  • Dr. Ruth Crutchfield, Sciences and Communication Disorders Click Here 
  • Dr. Upal Roy, Health & Biomedical Sciences  Click Here 
  • Dr. Ivan Figueroa, Health & Human Performance Click Here 
  • Dr. Wen-Pin Chang, Occupational Therapy Click Here 
  • Dr. Bassent Abdelbary, Physician Assistant Click Here 
  • Vacant, Integrated Health Science Click Here 
  • Dr. Murat Karabulut, Ex-officio member 

UTRGV Funding Opportunities

UTRGV-WIDE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 

  • Office of the Provost, Research Support 
  • Mid-Career Faculty Research Development Program 
  • Faculty Research Travel Support Program 
  • Faculty Seed Research Grants 

COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 

  • Research Fellows Program 
  • CoHP Small Grants 

Funded Research Projects

Funding Source: Healthy Americas Foundations 

Dates: 5/2024-10/2024 

Total award amount:$10,000 


Biological and Generic Markers Associated with Chronic Disease in Hispanics Nationally and in States Neighboring the Border
Email: CoHP PI: Bassent Abdelbary 

Federal Agency Grant

CoHP PI: Frank Ambriz  

Funding Source: U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services 

Dates: 07/2021—06/2026 

Total award amount: $1.03M 


Physician Assistant Training in Primary Care
Email: CoHP PI: Frank Ambriz

Federal Agency Grant

Funding Source: U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services 

Dates: 12/2022—12/2026 

Total award amount: $250,000 


Mental Health Awareness Training at a Hispanic Serving Institution
Email: CoHP PI: Eluterio Blanco 

Federal Agency Grant

Funding Source: U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services 

Dates: 03/2020—02/2025 

Total award amount: $435,900 


Local dual delivery of chemotherapy and an anti-angiogenic agent from an injectable functionalized biodegradable biomaterial system for the treatment of gliomas
Email: CoHP PI: Sue Anne Chew  

Federal Agency Grant

Funding Source: U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services 

Dates: 08/2020—07/2025 

Total award amount: $732,842 


Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Email: CoHP PI: Sue Anne Chew 

Federal Agency Grant

The GET PHIT consortium, led by the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health (SPH) and School of Biomedical informatics (SBMI) in partnership with HBCUs, HSIs, other university partners, and state and local public health agencies across Texas is focused on reducing the nation’s health disparities and inequities by expanding the number of public health professionals trained in public health informatics and technology. 

Funding Source: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, US Department of Health and Human Services 

Dates: 9/2021 – 9/2025 

Total award amount: UTRGV sub-award, $369,958 


GET PHIT Gaining Equity in Training for Public Health Informatics and Technology
Email: CoHP PI/Co-I(s): Tracia Forman (PI); Suad Ghaddar (Co-I)

Federal Agency Grant

Funding Source: U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services 

Dates: 07/2020—06/2025 

Total award amount: $619,656 


Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students
Email: CoHP PI: Daniela Gill

Federal Agency Grant

Funding Source: U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services 

Dates: 03/2022—02/2025 

Total award amount: $630,936 


Defining the Disease-Causing HRasG12V Mutation as a Link for Defective Myelin and Subnormal Learning
Email: CoHP PI: Alejandro Lopez Juarez

Federal Agency Grant

Funding Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living & Rehabilitation Research (Langston University Subcontract) 

Dates: 10/2023—09/2024 

Total award amount: $25,000 


Institutional Research Capacity Building and Infrastructure Model
Email: CoHP PI: Ulku Karabulut

Federal Agency Grant

Funding Source: National Science Foundation  
Dates: 09/2021 – 08/2026  
Total award amount: $2.99M 
Goals: 

  1. Apply a promising theory of change to institutionalize the effective use of inclusive, research-based instructional strategies in STEM departments and undergraduate courses [i.e., Henderson, Beach, and Finkelstein's (2011) four categories of change strategies].
  2. Generate new knowledge about the ways in which a novel combination of change strategies enables STEM departments to institutionalize the use of inclusive, research-based instructional strategies in undergraduate STEM courses.
  3. Generate new knowledge about the institutional and departmental factors that support or constrain the effective use of inclusive, research-based instructional strategies in undergraduate STEM courses.

Collaborative Research: Building Educational Theory Through Enacting Reforms in STEM
Email: CoHP PI: Saraswathy Nair, Co-PI: Dr. Timothy Huber

Federal Agency Grant

The major goals of this project are to identify challenges minoritized students face and create an inclusive community to support undergraduate retention and success in STEM and Biomedical careers. The HHMI Inclusive Excellence award allows us to provide mentoring and instructional facilitation to incoming BMED students, during the first two years in the program. In order to support institutional change, faculty development in inclusive, student centered and equitable pedagogy is supported by the award. 

Funding Source: Howard Hughes Medical Institute 

Dates: 09/2017—08/2024 

Total award amount: $1.05M 


2017 HHMI Inclusive Excellence
Email: CoHP PI: Saraswathy Nair

Federal Agency Grant

Funding Source: U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services 

Dates: 07/2020—06/2026 

Total award amount: $3.3M 


A targeted anti-HIV drug delivery to the GALT
Email: CoHP PI: Upal Roy

Federal Agency Grant

Funding Source: NASA 

Dates: 08/2023—09/2024 

Total award amount: $50,000 


MUREP Partnership Learning Annual Notification (MPLAN)
Email: CoHP PI: Upal Roy

State Grant

Approximately 25% of adults and 80% of adolescents around the world are physically inactive (sedentary). However, the use of VR technology in exercise has witnessed a surge in popularity in recent years in efforts to increase engagement and physical motivation among younger individuals. Virtual reality exercise may enhance participation in and commitment to exercise programs by reducing perceived physical strain. Therefore, this study aimed to compare 1) the physiological and biochemical salivary responses and 2) participants’ perceived exertion and exercise method satisfaction using virtual reality (VR) versus traditional resistance (TR) exercises.   

Funding Source: Texas Society for Advancement of Health 

Dates: 09/2023—08/2024 

Total award amount: $1,500 


Virtual Reality Exercising vs. Traditional Exercise Training: A Comparative Study on Biochemical Salivary and Rate of Perceived Exertion Responses among Young Males
Email: CoHP PI/Co-I(s): Murat Karabulut

State Grant

Funding Source: University of Texas at Austin 

Dates: 09/2022—09/2024 

Total award amount: $50,000 


Addiction Technology Transfer Center HHS REGION 6
Email: CoHP PI: Fidencio Mercado

State Grant

Funding Source: TX Health and Human Services Commission 

Dates: 10/2022—03/2024 

Total award amount: $781,348


South Texas Early Prevention Study
Email: CoHP PI/Co-I(s): Zasha Romero

State Grant

Funding Source: TX Health and Human Services Commission 

Dates: 10/2023—09/2024 

Total award amount: $781,348


Texas Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed)
Email: CoHP PI/Co-I(s): Zasha Romero

College of Health Professions


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Health Affairs Building West - EHABW 2.230
Phone: 956-665-2291
Email: cohpinfo@utrgv.edu

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Biomedical Research & Health Building - BBRHB 2.101
Phone: 956-882-5000

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