• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Search

Indiana University Indiana University IU

Open Search
  • About
    • Welcome
    • Leadership
    • Offices
    • Directory
    • Accreditation
    • Join our Team: Faculty/Academic Appointments
    • Join our Team: Staff Positions
    • Contact
    • Virtual Tour
  • Undergraduate
    • Majors & Degrees
    • Minors & Certificates
    • Advising
    • How to Apply
    • Costs and Finances
    • Contact & Visit
    • Dean's List
    • Virtual Tour
  • Masters
    • Majors & Degrees
    • Accelerated Master's Programs
    • Online program
    • How to Apply
      • Exploratory Non-Degree Seeking
      • International
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Advising
    • Costs and Financial Aid
    • Continuing Education
    • Certificates
    • Contact & Visit
    • Virtual Tour
  • Doctoral
    • Majors
    • How to Apply
      • International
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Advising
    • Costs and Financial Aid
    • Continuing Education
    • Contact & Visit Us
    • Virtual Tour
  • Career Services
    • Career Coaching
    • Career Kickstart
    • Student Outcomes
    • Recruit with Us
  • Student Experience
    • Life in the School of Public Health-Bloomington
    • Classroom Experience
    • Honors Program
    • Living Learning Center
    • Education Abroad
    • Research Day
    • Ombuds Office
  • Research & Departments
    • Centers and Institutes
    • Departments
      • Applied Health Science
      • Environmental and Occupational Health
      • Epidemiology and Biostatistics
      • Health & Wellness Design
      • Kinesiology
    • Bìguān 闭关
    • G.I.F.T.S.
  • Alumni & Giving
    • Ways to Give
    • Ways to Get Involved
    • Dean’s Alliance
    • Alumni Association Board
    • Distinguished Alumni Awards
      • Submit a Nomination
  • Current Students
    • Advising
    • Career Services
    • Internships
    • Financial Support
      • Scholarships
      • Fellowships
      • Fellowship & Scholarship Application
        • Fellowship & Scholarship Application: FAQs
    • Education Aboard
    • Student Organizations
    • Forms
    • Inclusive Excellence & Belonging
    • Graduation
    • Contact
  • News & Events
    • News
      • All News
    • Events
    • Distinguished Colloquium Speaker Series
      • Past Speakers
        • Distinguished Colloquium Speaker Series
        • Distinguished Colloquium Speaker Series
    • For Media Professionals

School of Public Health‐Bloomington

  • Home
  • About
    • Welcome
    • Leadership
    • Offices
    • Directory
    • Accreditation
    • Join our Team: Faculty/Academic Appointments
    • Join our Team: Staff Positions
    • Contact
    • Virtual Tour
  • Undergraduate
    • Majors & Degrees
    • Minors & Certificates
    • Advising
    • How to Apply
    • Costs and Finances
    • Contact & Visit
    • Dean's List
    • Virtual Tour
  • Masters
    • Majors & Degrees
    • Accelerated Master's Programs
    • Online program
    • How to Apply
    • Advising
    • Costs and Financial Aid
    • Continuing Education
    • Certificates
    • Contact & Visit
    • Virtual Tour
  • Doctoral
    • Majors
    • How to Apply
    • Advising
    • Costs and Financial Aid
    • Continuing Education
    • Contact & Visit Us
    • Virtual Tour
  • Career Services
    • Career Coaching
    • Career Kickstart
    • Student Outcomes
    • Recruit with Us
  • Student Experience
    • Life in the School of Public Health-Bloomington
    • Classroom Experience
    • Honors Program
    • Living Learning Center
    • Education Abroad
    • Research Day
    • Ombuds Office
  • Research & Departments
    • Centers and Institutes
    • Departments
    • Bìguān 闭关
    • G.I.F.T.S.
  • Alumni & Giving
    • Ways to Give
    • Ways to Get Involved
    • Dean’s Alliance
    • Alumni Association Board
    • Distinguished Alumni Awards
  • Search
  • Current Students
  • News & Events
  • Home
  • News & Events
  • News
  • 2024
  • Faculty members receive grant to study feasibility of mobile pop-up units for diabetes prevention

Faculty members receive grant to study feasibility of mobile pop-up units for diabetes prevention

Friday, March 22, 2024

Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington (SPH-B) Applied Health Science faculty members Ines Gonzalez Casanova, Ph.D. and Karla Galaviz, Ph.D. were recently awarded an R21 National institutes of Health (NIH) Exploratory/Development Research Grant in the amount of $594,375 to study the feasibility of mobile health units for rural Latino populations in Indiana. While the goal of the mobile units is to help close the health equity gap in Type 2 diabetes preventive services, another project aim is to address specific barriers hindering diabetes screening for this specific population—who, according to research, are less likely to have access to this service than any other group. 

Ines Gonzalez Casanova
Dr. Ines Gonzalez Casanova

"Latino individuals, particularly those of Mexican or Central American origin, face a heightened Type 2 diabetes risk due to genetic predisposition, early-life exposure to malnutrition, and dietary behaviors," says Dr. Gonzalez Casanova. "Early detection and intervention are crucial for preventing Type 2 diabetes, underscoring the importance of access to screening for Latino communities, especially those in rural areas."

Dr. Galaviz says the R21 funds will be used to obtain health unit equipment for diabetes prevention, as well as to compensate community partners and potential end-users who will guide unit design and implementation. The team will begin working in southern Indiana—specifically Dubois and Daviess Counties—as both have a growing Latino population and associated Type 2 diabetes concern. Once the initial pop-up unit model is developed to serve these areas, the team will potentially expand to other high-risk areas throughout Indiana.

Dr. Karla Galaviz
Dr. Karla Galaviz

"Community partners will have a leading role in designing the diabetes unit and its implementation system,” says Dr. Galaviz. “By involving them in the design process, we anticipate that the final unit will better cater to the needs of Latino individuals living in rural Indiana; thereby enhancing our chances of success."

Dr. Gonzalez-Casanova stresses that community involvement will be crucial to the development of the unit services and programming. While diabetes preventive services implementation will take priority, other services envisioned for this unit include screenings for chronic disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fatty liver disease, and depression.

“Our research efforts are divided based on complementary expertise,” adds Dr. Gonzalez-Casanova. “Dr. Galaviz specializes in diabetes prevention and implementation science, while my background lies in nutrition with expertise in serving Latino populations. We share a passion for preventing chronic diseases in diverse populations and are enthusiastic about collaborating on this project.”

For more stories about SPH-B students and faculty making a big difference both locally and worldwide, visit go.iu.edu/48bx.

  • News
    • All News
  • Events
  • Distinguished Colloquium Speaker Series
  • For Media Professionals

Additional links and resources

  • Information for:
    • Current Students

      • Academic Forms Online
      • Academic Forms Download
      • Advising
      • Career Services
      • Internships
    • Faculty / Staff

      • Grant Administration Office
      • Dean's Office Guidelines
      • Academic Council Guidelines
      • HR Toolkit
      • Faculty / Staff Online Forms
  • Quick Links
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Faculty Directory
    • News
    • Events
    • Alumni
    • Giving
    • Room Request Form
  • Join our Team
    • Administration & Faculty positions
    • Staff positions
  • Undergraduate Programs
    • Degrees & Majors
    • How to Apply
    • Contact
  • Masters Programs
    • Degrees & Majors
    • How to Apply
    • Contact
  • Doctoral Programs
    • Majors
    • How to Apply
    • Contact
  • Key Websites
    • Online Programs & Certificates
    • THRIVE Living-Learning Center
    • Grant Administration Office
    • Internships
    • Public Health Partnerships
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

School of Public Health-Bloomington
1025 E. Seventh Street, Suite 111
Bloomington, IN 47405-7109

Phone: 812-855-1561
Fax: 812-855-4983

Indiana University

Accessibility | College Scorecard | Open to All | Privacy Notice | Copyright © 2025 The Trustees of Indiana University