HSHPS, in an effort to develop and coordinate health professions students training opportunities along the U.S.-Mexico Border, currently facilitates the development of research and training at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). The following projects are current projects being conducted at UTHSCSA:

• Environmental Health and Medicine Initiative: HSHPS received funding from the CDC in 2004 for researchers at UTHSCSA to develop a framework for cooperation between the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) and federal/state agencies that will promote educational initiatives that translate scientific knowledge into effective action in the field of environment health and medicine. In 2004, HSHPS was granted an additional funding to continue the project at UTHSCSA.

• "Environmental Health Practice in Lower Rio Grande Valley" project: HSHPS received funding from the CDC in 2004 for UTHSCSA to evaluate existing materials and programs developed by Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), as well as to develop alternative environmental educational services that would assist primary health care providers who practice in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Other initiatives include:

HSHPS U.S.-Mexico Border Health Research Initiative: HSHPS, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), developed a U.S.-Mexico Border Health Research Initiative which consists of four symposiums. HSHPS intends to submit research recommendations, based on the outcomes of the symposiums, to the CDC and AHRQ that will further promote the health of U.S.-Mexico border populations. The goals of the HSHPS U.S.-Mexico Border Health Research Initiative are:

• Increase the number of Hispanics who develop and implement studies in health prevention research targeting Hispanics along the U.S.-Mexico Border

• Increase the amount of Hispanic health prevention research targeted at the U.S.-Mexico Border

• Increase awareness of the resources and opportunities for Hispanic health prevention research through Federal and non-Federal agencies

• Develop and coordinate health professions students training opportunities along the U.S.-Mexico Border.