College of Health and Human Sciences AgSEED-funded projects 2025

This year, three Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences faculty members were awarded grants from the Agricultural Science and Extension for Economic Development (AgSEED) program. Awarded by the College of Agriculture, these grants focus on advancing Indiana’s leadership in plant and animal agriculture and rural development.

Impact of delivery method on the effectiveness of program delivery of a matter of balance among midlife and older adults living in rural Indiana: a feasibility study 

Project Leader: Steve Amireault, associate professor of health and kinesiology 

For older adults, a fall can be devastating. “A Matter of Balance” is an eight-session fall prevention program for midlife and older adults ages 55 and up offered through the Extension network across Indiana in both four-week and eight-week periods. This project’s objective is to evaluate how the program’s length and timing (spring/summer versus fall/winter) impact its effectiveness. Using post-program survey data and a limited-efficacy feasibility study, the researchers will examine whether program length and delivery timing are associated with different outcomes relating to falls, physical activity and gait speed. 

Impact of culturally appropriate snack on cardiometabolic health, the circulating metabolome and the gut microbiome in Hispanic/Latine Individuals from Indiana

Project Leader: Annabel Biruete, assistant professor of nutrition science 

Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome is a newly described disorder involving metabolic disease, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular risks. The syndrome is associated with mortality and a poorer quality of life. People of Hispanic/Latine background, the second-largest minority group in Indiana, are at increased risk. A healthy diet is a key part of CKM prevention and management, and research suggests culturally tailored interventions are related to better treatment adherence. The Dieta de la Milpa is a healthy dietary pattern described for people from Mexico and Central America that emphasizes the consumption of four traditional staples: corn, beans, pumpkins/squashes and chilies. This study will test a snack inspired by the Dieta de la Milpa by looking at participants’ reactions to the snack’s sensory properties — including taste and smell —and the short-term impacts on CKM biomarkers and the gut microbiome. Participants will be Hispanic/Latine individuals from the Greater Lafayette area at risk of CKM syndrome. The results will serve as pilot data for future USDA and NIH grants. 

Investigation of the relationship between social media use and TDAP/influence vaccine uptake among pregnant women in Indiana 

Project Leader: Soojung Jo, assistant professor of nursing 

Respiratory infectious diseases like whooping cough and the flu pose significant risks to maternal and infant health, but maternal vaccination rates in the U.S. remain low, with only 25.6% of pregnant women receiving both Tdap and influenza vaccines in 2023. This study aims to identify how the use and trust in various information sources, particularly social media, relate to vaccine uptake among pregnant women in rural Indiana — a state with notably low vaccination rates. Researchers will conduct an online survey in partnership with Tippecanoe WIC and Purdue’s North Central Nursing Clinics (NCNC), looking at the frequency of use and trust in different information sources, including health care providers, internet search engines and social media, as well as engagement with vaccine content on social media. The project will also analyze how these factors influence vaccine attitudes and uptake. The findings will inform targeted interventions to improve maternal vaccination rates. This study aligns with national health goals and will provide crucial preliminary data for future research.