All Research
For more information about each study, please click on the logos below.
Currently Ongoing Research
The HRSA BHWET-Pro grant continues interdisciplinary training of FIU fellows from Social Work, Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Education and Professional Counseling in Psychology programs. This is a continuation and expansion of CBRI’s original HRSA grant.
Principal Investigator:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
Program Coordinator:
• Jordan E. Quintana, MSW
Assistant Program Coordinator:
• Katherine Perez, MSW, MPH
Currently Ongoing Research
The Research Center in Minority Institutions (RCMI) at Miami-Dade’s Florida International University will focus on developing and sustaining a national, clinical and behavioral research program addressing health inequities and disparities primarily associated with HIV and substance use problems for underrepresented minorities.
Principal Investigator:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
Co-Core Leaders:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
Program Managers:
• Chelsea Lopez, MS • Jordan E. Quintana, MSW • Katherine Perez, MSW, MPH
Currently Ongoing Research
RCMI – Pilot Studies
The purpose of the Pilot Grant Program is to develop research opportunities for a group of early stage investigators at FIU, particularly those from underrepresented minority groups, who are committed to conducting research on health disparities and to achieve the goal of successfully competing for peer-reviewed grant funding (e.g., R21, R01).
Principal Investigator:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
Co-Core Leaders:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
Investigator Development Core Leader:
• Mary Jo Trepka, MD, MSPH
Program Manager:
• Cinthya Silva-Cruz, MPA
The Florida Department of Health’s Closing the Gap grant program aims to improve health outcomes of racial and ethnic health populations. FIU-CBRI served as the evaluation partner for this program.
Principal Investigators:
• Melissa Howard, Ph.D., MPH • Hui Huang, Ph.D., MSW, MS, MA
Co-Investigators:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D. • Michelle Hospital, Ph.D.
• Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
• Michael Anastario, Ph.D. • Gladys Ibañez, Ph.D.
• Zoran Bursac, Ph.D.
• Nana “Aisha” Garba, M.D., Ph.D., MPH
Project Coordinator:
• Katherine Perez, MSW, MPH
FIU-RCMI CEAL Project
The goals of the FIU-RCMI Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) project included increasing diversity and inclusion in vaccine trials, increase vaccine literacy and reduce vaccine hesitancy among disproportionately affected communities and populations. The FIU FLCEAL team works closely together with 5 community partners to not only investigate health disparities in vaccine uptake.
Principal Investigator:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D. • Adriana Campa, Ph.D. (former)
Co-Investigators:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
Project Coordinator:
• Sara Charles, MPH
This project, offered by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO), addresses reentry barriers with the goal of reducing recidivism of former State of Florida prisoners returning to Broward County after release. The Broward Reentry Center (BREC) offers support services through a one stop portal initiative. FIU-CBRI served as the evaluation partner for this study.
Program POC:
• Michelle Mumaw
Financial POC:
• Leslie Cedeno
Research POC:
• Paula Smith
Principal Investigator (Evaluation Team):
• Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
Co-Investigators (Evaluation Team):
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D. • Zoran Bursac, Ph.D.
FIU-RCMI Vaccine Literacy Townhall Supplement
The FIU-RCMI Townhall Supplement aimed to increase COVID-19 vaccine knowledge, confidence, trust, and readiness by conducting Townhalls in partnership with community organizations and in three different languages.
Principal Investigator:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D. • Adriana Campa, Ph.D. (former)
Co-Investigators:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
• Nana Aisha Garba, MD, Ph.D., MPH
• Mary Jo Trepka, MD, MPH • Melissa Howard, Ph.D., MPH
Project Coordinator:
• Sara Charles, MPH
FIU-CBRI was awarded a HRSA grant to expand the South Florida professional workforce trained to provide inter-professional behavioral health care. The program focused on different masters, including Master of Social Work (MSW), Professional Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Principal Investigator:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
Co-Investigator:
• Current: Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
• Former: Adriana Foster, M.D.
Project Coordinators:
• Jordan Quintana, MSW • Katherine Perez, MSW, MPH
In partnership with the Florida State University (FSU) Center for Indigenous Nursing Research for Health Equity (INRHE), this project provided a solid foundation for delivering sustainable, high quality, accessible, state of the science substance abuse (SA), HIV/AIDS, and viral hepatitis (VH) prevention services to urban American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) young adults at Pow-Wows throughout Florida. FIU-CBRI served as the evaluation partner for this study.
Principal Investigator:
• John Lowe, RN, Ph.D., FAAN, (University of Texas Austin)
Co-Investigators/Evaluation Team:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
Evaluation Coordinator:
• Katherine Perez, MSW, MPH
Partnership for Preventing Health Risks
Originally in collaboration with Union Positiva, later in collaboration with Project Access Foundation and Spectrum Programs (Banyan Health Systems), this SAMHSA funded study implements prevention interventions aimed at reducing substance use, HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis among Hispanic young adults. Interventions involved free HIV/VH testing at FIU campus and a social media awareness and prevention campaign (Cody the Camel mascot).
Principal Investigator:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
Project Coordinator:
• Katherine Perez, MSW, MPH
Focusing on two high schools in the larger Miami-Dade County area, this study, funded by the Office of Minority Health, aimed to evaluate dissemination of evidence-based practices to reduce violence, aggression, and substance abuse/use among racial/ethnic minority youth. These services, as well as Youth Service Plans, were implemented by the Minority Violence Prevention Project 88 (MVP 88). FIU-CBRI served as the Evaluation Partner for this study.
Principal Investigator:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
Project Coordinator:
• Michael Vasconez, MSW
Together with the Murray Dranoff 2 Piano foundation, FIU-CBRI was awarded funds from the Ware Foundation to evaluate a multi-faceted arts integration program (Piano Slam) that worked with Miami-Dade County Public Schools middle and high schools students and teachers.
Principal Investigator:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
Project Coordinator:
• Ana Maria Rodriguez, Ph.D.
This Ware Foundation funded project offered Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) to foster youth in residential treatment facilities (SOS Children’s Village and His House). The goal was to evaluate the effects of participation in EFP, particularly on mental health related outcomes and overall quality of life. Stable Place and Nova Southeastern University were the clinical partners in this study.
Principal Investigator:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
• Shelley Green, Ph.D. (Nova Southeastern University)
This study, funded by the Aetna Foundation, evaluated a voluntary mindfulness and yoga-based program offered to high school students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, particularly racial/ethnic minority teens. The 6-week program involved on-site meditation, yoga and mindfulness exercises.
Principal Investigator:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
Project Coordinator:
• Eva Wales, M.S.
This NIDA-funded study was devoted to reducing substance use problems among Native American teens in rural communities in the South Central United States. Exploring the effects of a brief motivational interviewing (MI) intervention, this study investigated the effects of this intervention on substance use problems (alcohol and marijuana).
Co-Principal Investigators:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
• John Lowe, Ph.D., RN, FAAN (Florida State University)
Co-Investigators:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
Project Coordinator:
• Cheryl Riggs, M.S.
This NIAAA-funded multi-site study involved the evaluation of group-based alcohol use prevention program among Miami-Dade County Public School students. Both program conditions – motivational interviewing (MI) and Education Only – were implemented through 6 sessions and fitted with adolescents from various cultural backgrounds.
Principal Investigator (FIU Site):
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
Project Coordinator:
• Eva Wales, M.S.
This Ware Foundation funded study evaluated the impact of participation in the Miami Music Project (MMP) on youth ages 8-17 years old and their parents. MMP offers free ensemble-based music education programing. The primary aim of the study involved evaluating the effect of participation on positive youth development factors.
Principal Investigator:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
Project Coordinator:
• Eva Wales, M.S.
This study, funded by the Aetna Foundation, evaluated a voluntary mindfulness and yoga-based program offered to high school students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, particularly racial/ethnic minority teens. The 6-week program involves on-site meditation, yoga and mindfulness exercises.
Principal Investigator:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
FIU Yoga Teens was a collaborative project that represented a partnership among FIU-CBRI, Green Monkey Yoga, the STANDOUT Yoga Foundation, and Banyan Health Systems. This Ware Foundation funded study designed and implemented a 12-week yoga-program among teens receiving outpatient mental health treatment. Primary aims were to investigate the influence of the program on quality of life, anxiety and eating disorder symptoms and substance abuse related symptoms – compared to standard care.
Principal Investigator:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D. & Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
This NIAAA-funded study investigated an individual and family-based intervention program, focusing on Hispanic/Latinx, Haitian, and African-American. The study focused on implementing interventions that are fitting for cultural and social minority groups and are aimed at alcohol and drug problems.
Principal Investigator:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Andres Gil, Ph.D. • Jonathan Tubman, Ph.D.
Focusing on adolescents in outpatient treatment programs for alcohol and other drug problems, this study evaluated a treatment program that is fitting for adolescents. This study, funded by NIAAA, aimed to decrease sexual risk behaviors through Guided-Self Change intervention, compared with treatment as usual.
Principal Investigator:
• Jonathan Tubman, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
• Andres Gil, Ph.D. •Marilyn Montgomery, Ph.D.
This NIAAA-funded research project provided school-based interventions, targeting minority youth in high schools across Miami-Dade County. The aim was to develop an effective Guided Self-Change intervention for alcohol and aggressive behavior problems.
Co-Principal Investigators:
• Andres Gil, Ph.D. • Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Jonathan Tubman, Ph.D. • Mark Macgowan, Ph.D.
• Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D. • Fred Newman, Ph.D.
In collaboration with Penn State University, this NIAAA-funded study aimed to examine parent-student communications around alcohol-drinking behaviors among college students at Florida International University.
Principal Investigator:
• Rob Turrisi, Ph.D. (Penn State University)
Co-Investigators:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D.
• Mary Larimer, Ph.D. (University of Washington)
Focusing on Hispanic minority adolescents in high schools in Miami-Dade County, this NIAAA-funded study was a 5-year project that investigated the implementation and efficacy of a school-based intervention for alcohol abuse.
Principal Investigator:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Andres Gil, Ph.D. • Jonathan Tubman, Ph.D.
• Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
Focusing on Hispanic minority adolescents in high schools in Miami-Dade County, this NIDA-funded study was a 2-year project that investigated the implementation and efficacy of a school-based intervention for marijuana use and abuse.
Principal Investigator:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D
• James Jaccard, Ph.D. • Jonathan Tubman, Ph.D.
As a collaborative NIAAA-funded project between FIU-CBRI and the School Board of Broward County, TIP investigated the effectiveness of a school-based substance abuse group intervention among middle and high school students.
Principal Investigator:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
As a collaborative NIAAA-funded project between FIU-CBRI and the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, TIP-C aimed to investigate a school-based substance abuse intervention among Native American middle and high school students.
Co-Principal Investigators:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
• John Lowe, Ph.D., RN, FAAN (Florida State University)
Group Enhancement for Teens in Treatment (GET-IT) was a NIAAA-funded, 2-year project to understand factors influencing group treatment effectiveness among adolescents with alcohol and other drugs (AOD) problems. The project examined the influence of conduct disorder (CD) in group composition, disruptive behavior in group, and group leader behaviors on changes in AOD use over time.
Principal Investigator:
• Mark Macgowan, Ph.D.
Co-Investigator:
•Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
This NIAAA-funded project was a 2-year study evaluation of a brief motivational intervention (BMI) for reducing alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems among multicultural samples of adolescent girls.
Principal Investigator:
• Marilyn Montgomery, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D. • Andres Gil, Ph.D.
• Jonathan Tubman, Ph.D.