CHER Chicago

What does CHER Chicago do?

Advancing health equity and eliminating structural violence through science with community.

About us

#BlackLivesMatter

The Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) Chicago condemns the killing of George Floyd and the many other senseless acts of aggression against African Americans in recent and past history. CHER Chicago stands in solidarity with the individuals, organizations, and communities fighting racism, discrimination, and social injustice in our country. Now more than ever, we remain committed to our mission of eliminating the deep-rooted racism and other forms of structural violence in the US to enable true social change and achieve health equity. - Multi Principle Investigators Statement

Pilot Project Program

Three one-year awards available at $50,000 per award.

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CHER Chicago Values

The Center for Health Equity Research Chicago (CHER Chicago) will be a groundbreaking and inclusive hub of research and community partnerships creating a world free of structural violence.

Investigator Development

CHER Chicago strengthens health equity scholars and research activities that can expand our understanding of structural inequalities that expose racial, ethnic, and sexual and gender minority groups to differential risks and vulnerabilities.

Community Engagement & Dissemination

CHER Chicago acknowledges structural violence and its effects on people and communities can only be eliminated through engaging community partners in meaningful ways to transform academic research to real world social change.

Scientific Advancement

CHER Chicago strives to advance health equity research by developing and refining theoretical frameworks of structural violence and health equity; and by promoting multi-level, multi-disciplinary research on the social, economic, psychosocial, behavioral, and biophysical processes linking structural violence and health equity.

Public Policy Impact

CHER Chicago seeks to influence and partner with elected officials and government entities to advance legislation and protect programs that work in concert with our mission.

News

Find press releases, requests for proposals, and job opportunities

Request for R01- or R21-Types Concept Proposals for CHER Renewal Application

Overview This announcement is to request research concept proposals on structural violence for the renewal application of the Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) Chicago, housed at the UIC Instit[...]

Project Mapping: A Strategy for Developing a Research Proposal with Dr. Phoenix Matthews

You are invited to a webinar. When: April 22, 2021 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Register for here:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsduCupjIvE9WK4sI3moZdXdW6OroxmgXL[...]

Town Hall Panelist, Dr. Abdul-Adil Spotlight

How has COVID 19 impacted your community? COVID-19 has contributed to the ongoing – and in some cases escalating – healthcare and mental healthcare crisis in our partnering urban and […][...]

Interview and Event Recordings

Find video recordings of our interviews and events here

CHER Chicago Projects

Active research projects with a thematic focus of structural violence

Our research project with CHER Chicago is with a south east Asian mental health focus. South East Asian (SEA) immigrants in the United States face significant psychological distress due to their unique psychosocial stressors. Immigrants from these regions diverge from other Asian immigrants due to their exposure to structural violence and trauma prior to migration. The impact of pre-migration traumatic experiences and post-migration structural violence exposure on SEA immigrant children has not been well studied. This study will have 103 parent-child dyads. Dr. Karen E. Kim, The University of Chicago

The CHER Chicago project I am co-leading with Dr. Paul Grippo is on the gut microbiome and community stress. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Among all racial/ ethnic groups, the African American (AA) population exhibits the highest CRC incidence in the nation. Few studies have addressed both, biological and socio-environmental factors, including exposure to structural violence that may contribute to disproportionately high CRC risk in African Americans. Dr. Lisa Tussing-Humphreys, University of Illinois at Chicago

Thanks for connecting us.I'm super excited of the possibilities for partnership and the projects we'll jointly develop in an effort to address structural violence in Brighton Park and beyondDr. Rosalba Hernandez

Upcoming & Recent Events

CHER Chicago endorsed events

Defend Chicago Communities Against Anti-Asian Hate
March 24, 2021
Attend a Bystander Intervention Training with
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago
Presented with New York-based
nonprofit Hollaback!
5:00-6:00pm
REGISTER

Colorectal Cancer Prevention Virtual Community Conversation
MARCH 25, 2021
Chicago Cancer Health
Equity Collaborative
is having a webinar
on Zoom
12:00-1:00pm
REGISTER

Beyond the Binary: Providing Gender Affirming Care
MARCH 26, 2021
Sensitive care and inclusion series
Presented by:
Sarah Messmer, MD
Zoom
1:00-2:00pm
REGISTER

Contact

Please submit any questions and feedback you have any time.