En Español

Migration and Health Research Program (PIMSA)

The Health Initiative of the Americas (HIA), in partnership with the California Program on Access to Care (CPAC) of the University of California at Berkeley School of Public Health; Mexico's Ministry of Health (SSA); the Mexican Foundation for Health (FUNSALUD); Mexico's National Council on Science and Technology (CONACYT); California HIV/AIDS Research Program (CHRP); California Department of Public Health (CDPH); The California Endowment (TCE); University of Arizona; University of New Mexico; University of Texas at El Paso; Texas A & M University; University of Illinois at Chicago; and the State University of New York fund projects from teams of United States and Mexican researchers from select universities for basic and applied collaborative research, public policy, public service, and education projects that apply research to issues of health and migration in the United States and Mexico through its Request For Proposals (RFP), Request For Application (RFA) and Dissertation Grants.

Specifically, the primary objective of the program is to provide seed funds for developing projects in all disciplines that will enhance the understanding and knowledge of migration and health-related issues facing Mexican-origin workers and their families in the United States and Mexico, as well as the dissemination of information regarding these issues. A second objective is to promote new collaborative research actions and long-term linkages among the select university campuses and Mexican research institutions. Ultimately, the program strives to create a binational network of researchers and institutions from the United States and Mexico who can inform policy decisions on health and migration issues.

Research areas for consideration include, but are not limited to the following areas:

  1. Mental health, including domestic violence, alcohol and substance abuse, and its relation with culture;
  2. Chronic diseases, including nutrition related diseases such as unhealthy diets related to diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity;
  3. Infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
  4. Occupational health and injury prevention, especially concerning farm workers;
  5. Women's health;
  6. The health of special vulnerable populations (indigenous, disabled, elderly, and single males age 18 to 45.)
  7. Access to services, including best practices of health prevention and promotion, such as promotoras outreach programs; strategies for expanding health insurance; legal issues related to access to health; and the uses of medical technology to reduce health disparities.
Binational Health Week Logo

Binational Health Week

This year, the Ninth BHW will take place October 3-15, 2009 in 40 states in the U.S. and 3 provinces in Canada, with the participation of the consular networks of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Additionally, during BHW five national campaigns will be implemented to promote awareness among the underserved Latino community on H1N1 Influenza, Prevention of Addictions, Nutrition, Prevention of Strokes, and Living Green.
More information about BHW events