For Clinical Trials Day 2020, we reached out to Dr. Luz Garcini at the UT Health San Antonio's ReACH Center about her study helping undocumented immigrants cope with stress in the U.S. :

In Proyecto Voces, we combine research into practice. That is, we apply what we learn from our studies to our outreach in the community. Covering many topics, Proyecto Voces’ studies have ranged from informing basic science research to developing training and educational resources. This also helps us develop interventions.

One of our current studies is to understand how stress gets “under the skin” of undocumented Latinx immigrants, affecting mental and physical health. Undocumented immigrants face complex and chronic stress imposed by social, political and cultural environments. Coping with this high-level of stress can increase their risk for developing chronic illness.

In this study, we are collecting information in 3 ways:

1. detailed immigration and demographic history

2. blood samples to understand the effect that stress has on physical health

3. information on how immigrants cope with stress

This information will help us understand how stress affects the body and identify any helpful skills or attitudes to pass onto other Latinx immigrants. We are collecting similar data from documented Latinx residents and U.S. citizens to compare how stress affects health in these groups.Proyecto Voces is expanding to study how COVID-19 has made the effects of stress worse for undocumented Latinx immigrants and their documented Latinx counterparts. It has now shifted our research focus to better understand the health of vulnerable communities in the context of a pandemic. This information is essential to reduce the widening gap of pre-existing Latinx health disparities and reduce negative social and economic consequences.

This information will help us understand how stress affects the body and identify any helpful skills or attitudes to pass onto other Latinx immigrants. We are collecting similar data from documented Latinx residents and U.S. citizens to compare how stress affects health in these groups.

Proyecto Voces is expanding to study how COVID-19 has made the effects of stress worse for undocumented Latinx immigrants and their documented Latinx counterparts. It has now shifted our research focus to better understand the health of vulnerable communities in the context of a pandemic. This information is essential to reduce the widening gap of pre-existing Latinx health disparities and reduce negative social and economic consequences.