Ezemenari Obasi

Professor & Associate Dean of Research

Department of Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences

Research Interests

Dr. Obasi has a current program of research that focuses on the neurobiology of stress, addictions, health disparities that disproportionately affect the African American community, and cultural predictors of health behaviors.

Lab

Hwemudua Addictions and Health Disparities Laboratory (HAHDL)

emobasi@uh.edu

Phone

713-743-4698

Office Location

Farish 466G

Publications

News

How to Talk to College Students about Alcohol Addiction and Binge Drinking

Dr. Ezemenari Obasi speaks on NPR member station Houston Public Media with reporter Matthew Harab

Image of red confetti on a black background with text in a condensed, bold typeface (in all caps) that reads, "Four Pilot Grants Awarded to HEALTH-RCMI Researchers and Early-Stage Investigators"

Four Pilot Grants Awarded to HEALTH-RCMI Researchers and Early-Stage Investigators

To nurture the research paths of early-stage investigators, pilot project grants are tailored to…

Research on Marijuana Use Earns Recognition for UH College of Education Ph.D. Student

After years of working as a research chemist, University of Houston doctoral student Kerry Chávez…

Man sitting on couch talk to his son who stands before him

11 Ways to Cope with the Learned Helplessness and Secondary Trauma in the Aftermath of the Uvalde Mass Shooting

How do we cope with the learned helplessness, the sorrow and shock after inexplicable events like…

Image of family in tears in Uvalde, Texas. Image from Reuters.

How to cope with trauma after a mass shooting

Parents and schools are forced to find ways to have a difficult conversation about violence. What…

Photo of an empty wine glass under a low-light spotlight with a black background.

“Gray Area Drinking” Spikes During the Pandemic: The Warning Signs and How to Treat it

The jarring reality of a COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the stressors of job loss and increasing…

Breaking Down Barriers of Vaccine Hesitancy as Omicron Variant Cases Rise in Houston

Dr. Ezemenari Obasi weighs in on new research to better understand vaccine hesitancy

Hispanics, Latinos face challenges with mental illness

People with mental illness in the Hispanic and Latino communities face challenges getting help,…

Opinion - Pandemic hit Black and Latino communities hardest. Texas must address the root causes.

HRI Director Dr. Ezemenari Obasi is featured in this Houston Chronicle Op-ed regarding the…

Investigating Vaccine Hesitancy in Houston’s Underserved Communities

With COVID-19 vaccines more readily available than ever, there remains vaccine hesitancy in diverse…

Winners of the 2020-21 Awards for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity

The University of Houston announced the winners for the 2020-21 Awards for Excellence in Research,…

Want to Cut Back on Holiday Boozing? Learn to Hack Your Biology

HRI Director, Dr. Ezemenari Obasi, is featured in this gripping article about stress and its impact…

Pursuing Health Equity

Introducing our New National Research Center, a giant leap forward in Helping Everyone Achieve a…

2020 Stresses Plus Self-Medicating Can Be Deadly

Dr. Ezemenari Obasi, Director of HRI, is featured in this important article regarding drug overdose…

UHAND Graduation

Project UHAND'S first cohort has graduated from the program! It has successfully increased the…

Meet the New UHAND Scholars

We are excited to announce that the UHAND project has a second cohort of scholars, which comprises…

HRI Annual Report

Our annual report is ready to view!

Racial Health Disparities Panel

Dr. Ezemenari Obasi, Director of HRI, was a panelist in a virtual panel discussion on Black health.

Dr. Obasi is a Featured Expert During Viewing of George Floyd

Dr. Obasi was a featured expert on Houston's ABC13 News Today. He discussed the traumatic…

Project TOUCH Has Come to a Close

The HEALTH Research Institute designed the TOUCH program, funded by the United Health Foundation…

Opinion. We Shouldn’t Want to Return to Normal After COVID-19. Let’s Invest in Everyone’s Health.

In this powerful piece, Dr. Ezemenari Obasi, Director of HRI, discusses how the coronavirus…

Expert believes COVID-19 testing sites must be mobile to help vulnerable communities

Dr. Ezemenari Obasi, Director of HRI, speaks to Fox News regarding the importance of COVID-19…

Stress Test: Putting Stress of Pandemic, Quarantine to Good Use

Dr. Ezemenari Obasi, Director of HRI, speaks about ways to manage stress during COVID-19 social…

Pilot Grant Awardees

HRI awarded 2 pilot project grants to expand the HRI’s membership and work in the area of basic…

HEALTH A Call to Action - Pre-Conference and Conference

The HEALTH Research Institute (HRI) held its inaugural conference, HEALTH: A Call to Action, on…

TOUCH Program Reports Success in Houston’s East End

One year after launching in Houston’s East End, the University of Houston’s Project TOUCH (Treating…

Recent HRI Grant Submissions

This quarter HRI submitted grant submissions on a variety of topics such as addiction training,…

Houston Mayor and community leaders with local children

Mayor’s Back to School Fest

This event was created to help economically disadvantaged kids and their families. With…

Basic biomedical science - heart and stethoscope

Pilot Research Program

In support of the HRI’s goal to become a national Center of Excellence, the HRI recently released a…

HRI Member Spotlight - Research

Dr. Daphne C. Hernandez recently received funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National…

HRI New Website

The HRI team is excited to announce the launch of our new website and YouTube channel! Check out…

HEALTH A Call to Action - Inaugural HRI Conference

2020 is a month away, which means we’re a month closer to the HEALTH Research Institute’s first…

Project TOUCH is Spotlighted in Spanish Channel Univision

TOUCH's very own, Victoria Lara speaks about the importance of early prevention through…

Karla Cisneros, Dr. Ezemanari Obasi and Dr. Reitzel

Project TOUCH East End Launch

HRI collaborated with Council Member Karla Cisneros to present the 2019 Health and Resource Fair to…

Project TOUCH Provides Free Preventative Health Screenings

On April 27th, Project TOUCH administered free health screenings at Mason Park. Based on their…

Community Dialog on Diabetes Panel

Dr. Obasi and affiliates, Dr. Liaw and Dr. Reed, spoke on the Community Dialog on Diabetes panel…

Obasi secures $2.5 Million to Study Effects of Stress on Substance Abuse

The five-year grant will support research from the UH College of Education to investigate…

The HEALTH Research Institute officially launches at UH

The University of Houston releases its official announcement of the HEALTH Research Institute.

photo of woman getting her BMI measured at health fair

HRI gives health screenings at 2019 Health and Resource Fair

TOUCH, TTTF, and UHAND programs come to East End, in collaboration with Councilwoman Karla Cisneros…

Dr. Obasi on Isiah Factor, Fox 26 Houston

Dr. Obasi shares tips for quitting alcohol on Fox 26

Dr. Obasi discusses treatment options for alcohol abuse that include behavioral therapy, medication…

Partnership Moving into Houston’s East End after Success in Third Ward

Midway through a three-year, $2 million grant from the United Health Foundation, University of…

HRI researchers featured in UH Magazine

The University of Houston Magazine's Fall 2018 edition, titled "The Health Issue,"…

Nearly Half of Diabetics Skimp on Treatment Due to High Insulin Cost

According to the American Diabetes Association, between 2002 and 2013 the average price of insulin…

HRI featured in UH Research & Innovation 2017 Magazine

The latest issue of the UH Research & Innovation Magazine focuses on the role urban…

Dan O'Connor and Ezemenari Obasi speaking at United Health Foundation grant announcement event

United Health Foundation Helps HRI Tackle Obesity and Diabetes

A $2 million grant will help the institute work to prevent and treat obesity and Type 2 diabetes in…