Vaca study to focus on injury risk and young Latino men

Dr. Federico Vaca, UC Irvine associate professor of clinical emergency medicine and director of the Center for Trauma and Injury Prevention Research, has received a five-year, $624,000 research training grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. He plans to study adolescent development and behaviors that influence the risk of motor vehicle crash injury in young Latino men. Vaca will undertake both quantitative and qualitative studies to better understand the confluence of youth and Latino culture and their influence on the risk of motor vehicle crash-related injury and death. Previous research has found the young Latino male population to be the exception to the “Latino Epidemiological Paradox.” He will use findings from his studies to ultimately develop a clinical intervention program. Vaca is only one of less than 20 emergency physician researchers in the country to receive this type of federal training grant.