Apr 8, 2026
- Four projects selected for the 2026–2028 Nature and Human Health-Utah (NHH-UT) Pilot Grant Program
- Funded projects focus on healthcare, clinical trials, and translational science
- Pilot grants continue to catalyze innovation, research, and community impact
After an exceptionally competitive review process, Nature and Human Health-Utah (NHH-UT) has selected four projects to receive funding through the 2026–2028 Pilot Grant Program. These awards support innovative healthcare, clinical, and translational science projects advancing the field of nature and health in Utah and beyond.
The selected projects are:
- Exploring the Benefits of VR Nature for Depression in a Nature-Deprived Epilepsy Cohort
Principal Investigator: Dr. Rhiannon Cowan, research associate, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah
This pilot examines whether immersive virtual reality nature experiences can reduce depression and stress among patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who are confined to hospital beds during long-term neuromonitoring. The study will assess mood, stress, perceived restoration, and intracranial brain activity to better understand the neural mechanisms underlying nature’s mental health benefits.
Other participants: Amy S. McDonnell, Elliot H. Smith, Shervin Rahimpour, Ben Shofty, Jessica Veach - Building Strength Beyond the System: Testing Nature- and Outdoor Adventure–Based Well-Being Interventions for Justice-Involved Youth
Principal Investigator: Lewis Kogan, Utah State University’s Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter
This project evaluates a structured 10-week outdoor and adventure-based program for justice-involved youth across the Wasatch Front and Back. Outcomes include resilience, self-efficacy, stress, and overall well-being, as well as the mechanisms through which outdoor challenge and reflection support youth development.
Other participants: Meagan Ricks, Miranda Margetts, Ben Ukoh-Eke - Exposure–NHH: Examining Pollution, Outdoor Spaces, and Utah Recreation on Health
Co-Principal Investigators: Drs. Joshua Landvatter, Jessica DiCarlo, Kelly Baron, Brett Clark, and Scott D. Odell
This pilot implements an 8–12 week pollution-aware nature engagement program for adults living in west-side Salt Lake Valley neighborhoods. The project will assess feasibility and preliminary impacts on sleep quality, stress, blood pressure, and time spent in nature, while developing a scalable, community-informed model for improving equitable access to health-promoting outdoor spaces.
Other participants: Caitlin Quirk, Mara Scallon, Oquirrh Foundation - Nature-Informed Care Outcomes and Access for Utahns: Training Plus Program Scholarships and NIBSMA Validation
Principal Investigator: Dr. Heidi Schreiber-Pan, founder and executive director, Center for Nature Informed Therapy
This project expands access to nature-informed mental healthcare by providing training scholarships and mentorship for six Utah-based clinicians serving underserved populations. The project will also pilot and refine the Nature-Informed Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Model Assessment, generating Utah-based outcomes data while increasing access through a dedicated scholarship pool.
Other participants: Joanna Schaefer, with external collaborators from the University of Norway, SUNY, and the University of Maryland
The NHH-UT Pilot Grant Program was created to support early-stage, high-impact ideas that explore how nature can support health and well-being. By providing flexible funding, the program enables researchers and community partners to test innovative approaches, gather early evidence, and lay the groundwork for larger studies or sustained programs.
Since its inception, the program has supported research studies, community programs, and implementation efforts reaching veterans, college students, older adults, justice-impacted youth, people experiencing homelessness, first-generation scholars, and multigenerational BIPOC families. Many pilot projects have gone on to secure additional funding, produce peer-reviewed publications, and evolve into long-term programs through institutional partnerships and donor support.