The HBRT team has an extensive portfolio of federally funded research and training projects. With over 20 years of continued support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with other federal, state and local funding sources, their body of work encompasses all stages in the development of evidence-based behavioral interventions: conceptualization and design; epidemiological studies; randomized clinical trials testing feasibility and efficacy, dissemination studies; and, finally, taking research to practice through institutional training programs.
Some of the projects that HBRT investigators have directed or served as key collaborators on over the past two decades include:
Project: Engaging Social Workers in Preventing Alcohol- and Other Substance-Exposed Pregnancies
Funder: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Date: 2022-2026
PIs: Mary M. Velasquez and Kirk von Sternberg
Project: Be Well Texas: Treatment and Recovery Grant Program – SBIRT
Funder: Texas Health and Human Services Date: 2021-2026
PIs (subcontract): Mary M. Velasquez and Kirk von Sternberg
Project: Engaging Social Workers in Boosting COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake
Funder: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Date: 2021-2023
PIs: Mary M. Velasquez and Kirk von Sternberg
Project: CHOICES-TEEN: Efficacy of a Bundled Risk Reduction Intervention for Juvenile Justice Females
Funder: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH/NIDA) Date: 2021-2026
PIs: von Sternberg and Danielle Parrish; Co-Investigator: Velasquez
Project: Screening and Treatment for Unhealthy Alcohol Use as a Means of Cancer Prevention
Funder: Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Date: 2020-2023
PIs: Michael Pignone and Velasquez
Project: Tablet-based Intervention to Prevent Substance-exposed Pregnancy in Primary Care
Funder: NIH-NIAAA, R01 AA022924/ Date: 2015-2019
PIs: Velasquez and von Sternberg
Project: Diversity Supplement: Tablet-based Intervention to Prevent Substance-exposed Pregnancy in Primary Care
Funder: NIH-NIAAA, R01 AA022924-03S1/ Date: 2017-2019
PI: Mercedes Hernandez; Parent Grant PI: Velasquez
Project: Reaching Healthcare Professionals to Prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)
Funder: CDC, NU84DD000009 / Date: 2018-2022
PIs: Velasquez and von Sternberg
Project: Multidisciplinary Approach to Reduce Injury and Substance Abuse in Trauma Settings [Project TIP]
Funder: NIH-NIDA, R01 DA026088 / Date: 2008-2015
PIs: Velasquez and Craig Field
Project: Improving FASD Prevention and Practice through National Partnerships
Funder: CDC, U84DD001147 / Date: 2014-2018
PIs: Velasquez and von Sternberg
Project: CHOICES Plus: A Preconception Approach to Reducing Alcohol & Tobacco-exposed Pregnancy
Funder: CDC, U84 DD000438 / Date: 2008-2013
PIs: Velasquez and von Sternberg
Project: Multidisciplinary Approach to Reduce Injury & Alcohol Use
Funder: NIH-NIAAA, R01 AA015439 / Date: 2006-2013
PI: Field; Co-investigators: Velasquez, von Sternberg
Project: How Does Motivational Interviewing Work? Mechanisms of Action in Project CHOICES
Funder: NIH-NIAAA, R01 AA015930 / Date: 2006-2010
PI: Karen Ingersoll / Subcontract PI: Velasquez
Project: A Transtheoretical Model Group Therapy for Cocaine
Funder: NIH-NIDA, R01 DA015453 / Date: 2003-2007
PIs: Velasquez and von Sternberg
Project: Residency Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral for Treatment (SBIRT): Southeastern Consortium for Substance Abuse Training
Funder: SAMHSA/Mercer College of Medicine / Date: 2008-2010
PI: J. Paul Seale / Subcontract PI: Velasquez
Project: Intervention Training and Supervision for Screening and Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment (SBIRT)
Funder: SAMHSA/TX Dept. of State Health Services / Date: 2005-2009
PI: Tamara Allen / Subcontract PI: Velasquez
Project: The Georgia TX Improving Brief Intervention Project
Funder: NIH-NIAAA, R25 AA014915 / Date: 2005-2008
PI: J. Paul Seale / Subcontract PI: Velasquez
Project: Smoking Relapse Prevention among Postpartum Women
Funder: NIH-NCI, R01 CA9350 / Date: 2002-2007
PI: David Wetter / Subcontract PI: Velasquez
Project: Project CHOICES: A Randomized Clinical Trial for Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome among High-Risk Women
Funder: CDC, U84 CCU614576 / Date: 2000-2004
PI: Velasquez
Project: STD Testing in Young Women, a Stage-Based Approach
Funder: NIH-NIAID, R01 A1047341 / Date: 2001-2005
PI: Mariam Chacko / Subcontract PI: Velasquez
Project: Preventing Alcohol Exposed Pregnancy after a Jail Term
Funder: NIH-NIAAA, R01 AA12514 / Date: 1999-2005
PI: Patricia Mullen
Project: Secondary Prevention among HIV Positive Alcohol Abusers
Funder: NIH-NIAAA, R01 AA011808 / Date: 1997-2003
PI: Jeffrey Parsons / Subcontract PI: Velasquez
Project: Preventing Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancies among High-Risk Women
Funder: CDC / Date: 1997-2000
PI: Mullen / Subcontract PI: Velasquez
Project: Matching Patients to Alcoholism Treatments [Project MATCH]
Funder: NIH-NIAAA, U10 A008432 / Date: 1989-1996
PI: Carlo DiClemente
HBRT Affiliated Faculty
Yessenia Castro, PhD
Project: Assessing smoking dependence among Spanish-speaking Latino smokers
Funder: NIH-NIMHD, R21 MD011431 / Date: 2017-2019
PI: Castro
Project: Developing a Culturally Relevant Model of Smoking Cessation among Latinos
Funder: NIH-NCI, K01 CA157689 / Date: 2011-2016
PI: Castro
Project: Culturally Adapted Brief Motivational Intervention for Heavy Drinking Latinos
Funder: Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) / Date: 2014-2016
PI: Craig Field / Subcontract PI: Castro
Mercedes Hernandez, PhD, LCSW
Project: Diversity Supplement: Tablet-based Intervention to Prevent Substance-exposed Pregnancy in Primary Care
Funder: NIH-NIAAA, R01 AA-022924/ Date: 2017-2019
PI: Hernandez / Parent Grant PI: Velasquez
