Research projects

Dr. Brewer's Cardiovascular Community Health Collaborative Lab has several ongoing research projects and initiatives. These are related to both primary cardiovascular disease prevention and secondary cardiovascular disease prevention. While some of our studies are closed to enrollment, analysis is ongoing. Much of our research is part of our Fostering African-American Improvement in Total Health (FAITH!) Cardiovascular Health and Wellness Program.

Primary cardiovascular disease prevention

Our primary prevention research efforts relate to preventing the occurrence of a first cardiovascular-related condition, such as heart attack, stroke or peripheral artery disease.

This work involves creating community-informed, culturally aware mobile health (mHealth) interventions to promote heart-healthy lifestyle changes and prevent cardiovascular disease.

FAITH! Cardiovascular Health and Wellness partnership

FAITH! is an academic-community partnership that focuses on building collaborative relationships with faith-based organizations in the areas of Rochester, Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota. This partnership is designed to address documented gaps in cardiovascular health and overall health outcomes through inclusive, community-centered strategies.

'The FAITH! Trial: An mHealth Intervention to Improve Cardiovascular Health Among African Americans'

The FAITH Trial was a cluster randomized clinical trial of an mHealth lifestyle intervention called the FAITH! App. The trial was conducted in partnership with faith-based community organizations to support community-engaged research and broaden access to preventive health resources.

The FAITH App intervention delivered tailored, culturally aware health education and evidence-based cardiovascular health resources from Mayo Clinic healthcare professionals through a digital application, known as an app. The app was accessible on demand via electronic devices.

The intervention resulted in significant improvements in overall cardiovascular health among the study participants, underscoring its potential to advance population health through scalable, community-centered approaches.

This work was supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the American Heart Association.

'FAITH! Heart Health+'

This was an ancillary research study that immediately followed the FAITH! Trial. This study further examined the relationships among social and environmental factors, stress and cardiovascular health among African Americans. The study used a biopsychosocial framework to evaluate how external conditions and lived experiences may influence health outcomes.

The study included laboratory tests and cardiac diagnostic tests. It also included focus group discussions probing experiences and perspectives about structural foundations of inequality and barriers to prioritizing health and wellness. Geospatial clustering of cardiovascular health scores and stress levels were analyzed in relation to socioeconomic status and proximity to resources in neighborhoods with disadvantages, such as those lacking grocery stores, farmers markets, exercise facilities and recreational parks.

This study received funding from Mayo Clinic through the Executive Office and the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCaTS).

'Techquity by FAITH!'

This was a clinical trial that assessed the impact of the evidence-based FAITH! App intervention and a community codesigned digital health equity toolkit on digital health literacy and cardiovascular health among African American adults. The trial included support from a digital health advocate peer mentor.

This clinical trial received funding from the NIMHD.

FAITH! Emergency Preparedness Initiative

This is a community-based participatory research initiative that evaluates church emergency preparedness infrastructure and promotes capacity-building for response efforts within faith-based organizations. The goal is to strengthen readiness to manage all types of emergencies, including fire, natural disasters, weather and public health. The initiative was started in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. It has since expanded to include training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillators because of our lab's focus on cardiovascular health.

This initiative was supported by the Miami Heart Research Institute, the Association of Black Cardiologists Inc. and the American Heart Association.

FAITH! App optimization

The FAITH! App is a culturally tailored, community-informed mHealth intervention developed in direct response to requests from African American faith communities to support cardiovascular health through accessible, evidence-based lifestyle resources.

After successfully demonstrating its efficacy in improving cardiovascular health in these communities, our team is now working with CareEvolution, a healthcare technology company, to improve user experience and create an optimized, scalable stand-alone app.

A Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant, funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), was awarded to Dr. Brewer and CareEvolution to enhance the FAITH! App through an iterative series of human-centered designs and cultural tailoring with community members and past users.

'The Great MN Heart Health Check'

This was a research study to assess and promote community cardiovascular health and wellness. It was conducted at the Driven to Discover (D2D) Research Facility at the Minnesota State Fair in collaboration with Jeremy Van't Hof, M.D., M.S., of the University of Minnesota Medical School.

As part of the study, an interactive, educational experience was provided via an inflatable heart model exhibit. Community knowledge was assessed by survey. Cardiovascular health screenings were conducted on nearly 400 Minnesota State Fair attendees in alignment with the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 framework.

The study was supported by funds from the Mayo Clinic Department of Cardiovascular Medicine.

Secondary cardiovascular disease prevention

Our secondary prevention research projects relate to preventing another cardiovascular-related condition after one has already occurred.

Through this work, we hope to make cardiac rehabilitation more accessible to a range of patients while also addressing practical barriers to care that can affect patient engagement and outcomes. These barriers include geographic limitations, cost, scheduling constraints and technology access. Our projects include people who face challenges accessing traditional cardiac rehabilitation services, such as those in rural areas, those with limited resources, and those with reduced access to standard care pathways or documented disparate outcomes.

'FAITH! Hypertension'

This is a research study on blood pressure control in people with hypertension done in collaboration with Neighborhood HealthSource, a Federally Qualified Health Center in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The study assesses the efficacy of an adapted hypertension-specific version of the FAITH! App. It also encompasses a novel care model of healthcare professionals, community health workers and patients.

Funding for this study was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Mayo Clinic Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, and the Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCaTS).

'Virtual World-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation'

This is a study that uses Destination Cardiac Rehab, which is a virtual world-based cardiac rehabilitation program delivered via the Second Life platform. The study was designed with input from patients and caregivers. Our virtual world-based program circumvents traditional barriers to make cardiac rehabilitation accessible to all eligible participants.

Our study, a multicenter randomized clinical trial, is assessing the feasibility and acceptability of this virtual cardiac rehab program. Other participating centers include Johns Hopkins University; University of California, Irvine; and the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

This study is supported by an R01 grant from the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

In a related initiative called "Heart Empowerment and Advisory for Life Enhancement in Cardiac Rehab Settings (HEALERS)," we convened an advisory board that provides real-world contextualization of the virtual world-based program.

Community engagement

A fundamental element of our studies is working with community members on research projects.

Our FAITH! Community Steering Committee is an advisory board that includes representatives from academia, healthcare and community-based and faith-based organizations. In accordance with the principles of community-based participatory research, the committee meets quarterly to provide input on all research initiatives related to our FAITH! program.

The committee was established and supported with a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

Support our research

We also have a funding initiative to help support our research projects.

You can make a donation to help support the work being done by the FAITH! program. Mayo Clinic is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, and your donation is tax deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.

Make a donation.