GOALS
The goal of the NUEVA team is to evaluate and sustain a scalable, non-traditional, multi-platform food delivery application by using community-engaged and mixed methods research to increase capacity for senior nutrition through digital health intervention, assessment, and evaluation that improves food and nutrition security, loneliness and socialization, and health and mental health status of underserved older adult populations while also reducing food loss and waste. This project is an extension of promising practices that emerged during COVID-19.
Graduate Student Spotlight
Nishat Tabassum
Nishat Tabassum, a graduate assistant with NUEVA, attended the 2026 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) in Washington, D.C., on July 29-31. She and Dr. Biediger-Friedman, senior investigator for NUEVA, discussed the collaborative research paper Digital and Technology-Based Nutrition Interventions, Including Medically Tailored Meals (MTMs) for Older Adults in the U.S.—A Scoping Review, as well as the current progress and future endeavors of the NUEVA Project. As the team enters the final year of the financial grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), expanding knowledge and updates of NUEVA is more crucial than ever. Thank you, Nishat and Dr. Biediger-Friedman, for representing NUEVA at the national SNEB conference!
Nishat Tabassum introducing herself and the work she's done with NUEVA.
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WHY WE ARE HERE
who we are
We are a committed group of interdisciplinary faculty, staff, and students who are involved with research for NUEVA.
what we do
NEWS
LATEST NEWS
July 29-31, 2026: NUEVA Presents at SNEB Conference
The senior investigator for NUEVA, Dr. Lesli Biediger-Friedman, and graduate researcher Nishat Tabassum will present at the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) conference in Washington, D.C., at the end of July. At the conference, the duo will present a prepared introduction of NUEVA to the SNEB attendees and unveil the newly developed community-facing app aimed at Hays County constituents.
June 23-24, 2026: THE ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING WEBINAR
From 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm on June 23 & 24, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) will host the Commit to Connect National Summit to Increase Social Connections, a two-day webinar featuring the theme: “Champion Your Health: Social Connection as a Cornerstone of Prevention, Wellness, Healthy Aging, and Independence.” This event will connect leaders at the local, state, and national levels to discuss improving nutrition and physical activity among older adults and adults with disabilities.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the Older Americans Act (OAA), improving social connection through congregate meals, cooking and nutrition education to combat hunger, the importance of mobility in fall prevention and holistic health, and much more. The virtual summit is free for comity leaders to attend, and will have a focus on nutrition and social connection day one, with day two encompassing group and community physical activity importance.
June 10, 2026: NUEVA Meets with the Regional Transit Coordination Committee
On June 10, 2026, Drs. Cassandra Johnson, Lesli Biediger-Freidman, and Eduardo Perez attended the Regional Transit Coordination Committee (RTCC) of Central Texas quarterly webinar, organized by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Dr. Johnson's presentation contained a brief overview of NUEVA and its milestones, provided a live demo of the community-facing app, petitioned for community partnerships, and garnered initial feedback from attendees and members.
PAST UPDATES & PUBLICATIONS
EVENTS
Past Events
Previously Highlighted Media
Discover webinars, studies, and more from the past years of the NUEVA Project.