Research & Implementation

Heart failure (HF) affects nearly 7 million people in the U.S. and is a leading cause of illness and death. Significant disparities in diagnosis and treatment by race, ethnicity, sex, age, and socioeconomic status contribute to worse outcomes for minority groups. Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is recognized as a key cause of HF, particularly among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black populations, where it carries a poorer prognosis. New therapies that stabilize or silence the transthyretin (TTR) gene can slow disease progression, but are most effective when started early, highlighting the need for better screening.

This study will evaluate a deep learning model that uses electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and clinical data to improve early detection of ATTR-CM and make screening more accurate and equitable across diverse populations.

C’s the Day seeks to increase access to curative hepatitis C (HCV) treatment for hospitalized patients at NYP/Weill Cornell and NYP Lower Manhattan Hospital. The inpatient HCV treatment team educates patients, prescribes direct-acting antivirals, and facilitates bedside medication delivery before discharge, with streamlined outpatient follow-up to support adherence. The program specifically targets individuals facing barriers such as drug use or unstable housing. In addition to implementing this care model, they will rigorously evaluate the project by measuring treatment initiation, adherence, and cure rates, and by identifying implementation barriers and facilitators. This review will inform broader efforts to improve HCV care delivery in vulnerable populations.

Children from families with non-English language preference and limited English proficiency are at higher risk for medication errors and adverse events after ED visits, in part because personalized written discharge instructions are not consistently provided in their preferred language. This project is evaluating the accuracy and safety of AI models in translating personalized, free text discharge instructions to explore how they might complement professional human translation to improve care. By analyzing over 600 real pediatric ED encounters, the team is directly comparing clinically significant translation errors, adequacy, and meaning across human and machine translations. The results will inform whether AI can be reliably implemented in real-time to improve equity, safety, and quality of care for patients and families.

Energy insecurity, defined as the inability to adequately meet household energy needs, is a growing social need linked to respiratory conditions such as asthma. Both energy insecurity and childhood asthma have disparities; however, little is known about their intersection. The team is examining how energy insecurity affects children with asthma in New York City who are at substantial risk for asthma morbidity. Using data from NYP’s social needs screening program, longitudinal assessments, and home visits, the study aims to determine whether severe energy insecurity and indoor energy-related coping strategies are associated with high asthma morbidity. Findings will inform strategies to raise awareness and improve access to existing programs that address energy insecurity for patients and families.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a very common disease in aging populations, disproportionately affecting communities at highest risk of experiencing health inequities. Diagnostic and care delays are unfortunately common and are strongly driven by low AD health literacy. AD care has been transformed by newly available diagnostic tools and disease-modifying therapies. With new treatments, timely AD diagnosis has become even more important.

Old SCHOOL Hip Hop (OSHH) is a fun, educational, school-based multimedia program which teaches fourth to sixth grade children in New York City about AD through Hip Hop music, using “child mediated health communication.” The approach fosters intergenerational family communication that promotes dementia literacy and healthy aging attitudes and ultimately care-seeking behavior. Previously, a large, randomized trial of OSHH in NYC showed significant improvements in knowledge in children and their parents. The next phase of OSHH aims to shorten the program and expand to more communities in need.

Dr. Taylor’s team will use SDoH data from NYP’s electronic health records to identify which social factors most affect patient health and to collaboratively design a community-based intervention that reduces health disparities and supports healthy aging. This project will establish an EHR-based patient cohort to evaluate links between SDoH, age-related diseases, and biomarkers of biological aging, while also conducting qualitative interviews with patients and community stakeholders to identify feasible, culturally-grounded solutions. In collaboration with community organizations, the project emphasizes co-design and community engagement to ensure long-term sustainability and relevance. The anticipated impact includes generating preliminary data to support future intervention trials and establishing scalable methods for integrating biological aging measures into health equity research.

This project aims to investigate the causes, predictors, and consequences of delays in initiating neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Using a three-pronged approach, the study will combine retrospective chart reviews at CUIMC, population-level analyses of the National Cancer Database, and direct input from patients through surveys and interviews. The research will assess the incidence and reasons for treatment delays, identify disparities related to age, race, ethnicity, and insurance status, and capture patient perspectives on barriers such as transportation, caregiving responsibilities, and logistical challenges. Together, these methods will provide a comprehensive understanding of the multifactorial causes of delayed care in bladder cancer.