Nutrition for Underserved Elders Via Application (NUEVA)

ABOUT THE PROJECT

NUEVA logo containing an illustration of a fork and a spoon with leaves coming off of the sides of each.

Sponsor:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

PI:

Dr. Lesli Biediger-Friedman

Co-PIs:

Dr. Apan Qasem, Dr. Cassandra Johnson, and Dr. Melinda Villagran

Research Pillar(s):

An icon of a road with a leaf cluster as the middle pavement marking.
A briefcase icon with a Red Cross symbol, meant to represent the STEM and Healthcare Workforce priority.
A head icon with a heart in place of a brain, meant to represent the Personal Health and Wellbeing pillar.
An icon of an medical monitor showing heart beat activity, meant to represent the Digital Healthcare Transformation pillar.
An ambulance moving at high speed with the siren on, meant to represent the Emergency Preparedness pillar.

NUEVA (Nutrition for Underserved Elderly Via Application) aims to develop a sustainable, scalable food delivery application for underserved elderly populations in a 12-county region of Central Texas.

A digital health intervention accessible by app, NUEVA is intended to generate an array of positive outcomes by improving food and nutrition security, reducing loneliness, enhancing socialization, and improving the health and mental health of elderly populations of low socioeconomic status while also reducing food loss and waste.

Researchers and Collaborators

Headshot of Dr. Lesli-Biediger-Friedman.

Dr. Lesli Biediger-Friedman

Collaborator

Associate Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences

Headshot of Apan Qasem.

Apan Qasem

Collaborator

Professor and Associate Chair, Computer Science

Headshot of Dr. Cassandra Johnson.

Dr. Cassandra Johnson

Collaborator

Associate Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences

Headshot of Dr. Melinda Villagran.

Dr. Melinda Villagran

Executive Director, THRC

Dr. Joni Charles,
Environmental Economics, Developement & Analytics

Lizzeth Escalera,
Grant Coordinator, Nutrition & Outreach

Dr. Paula Granados,
Public Health, Nutrition & Outreach

Dr. Sangchul Hwang,
Environmental Engineering, Developement & Analytics

Dr. Shadi Maleki,
GIS Specialist, THRC

Dr. Francis Mendez,
Statistics, Developement & Analytics

Dr. Eduardo Perez,
Industrial Engineering, Developement & Analytics

Dr. Zo Ramamonjiarivelo,
Health Administration, Nutrition & Outreach

Dr. Keya Sen,
Health Administration, Nutrition & Outreach

Dr. Samjhana Shakya,
Postdoc Reseaerch Scholar, Nutrition & Outreach

Dr. Ram Shanmugam,
Health Administration, Developement & Analytics

PARTNERS

Administration for Community Living logo.
Nutrition and Aging Resource Center
Older Americans Act logo.
TXST School of Family and Consumer Sciences.

NUEVA Website

Learn more about the NUEVA team and what the project does for Central Texas communities.

IN THE NEWS

Professor Creates Food Delivery App to Aid Older Adult Population

The University Star | Carlota Pulgar
November 10, 2022    
Read Story >>

Texas State Developing App to Help Reduce Food Insecurity, Isolation Among the Elderly

KVUE | Drew Knight   
October 21, 2022    
Read Story >>

Food Delivery App Seeks to Reduce Food Insecurity, Social Isolation for Elderly

Inside TXST | Jayme Blaschke
October 20, 2022    
Read Story >>