Press Releases & Announcements
NIMHD Science Leader Receives Honors for Work Advancing the Science of Minority Health and Health Disparities
May 24, 2023: Dr. Monica Webb Hooper, NIMHD Deputy Director, recently received two public honors.
She is recognized as one of the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) Class of 2023 Global Top 100 List in support of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024. The MIPAD recognizes her contributions in health and wellness toward the advancement of people of African descent.
Academic Influence (AI) also has ranked Dr. Webb Hooper one of 25 Influential Black Psychologists and among 50 Influential Black Anthropologists from the past 30 years. Individuals ranked by AI are acknowledged for the number of citations they receive and their web presence, and for making significant contributions to their discipline. Read more.
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NIH-Funded Study Highlights the Financial Toll of Health Disparities in the United States
May 16, 2023: New NIMHD-funded research shows that the economic burden of health disparities in the United States continues to rise. The study, led by researchers from NIMHD, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Uniformed Services University, TALV Corp, and the National Urban League, revealed that racial and ethnic health disparities cost the U.S. economy $451 billion ($1,377 per person) in 2018. This represents a sharp increase of 41% from the previous estimate of $320 billion in 2014.
In addition, the study found that the total burden of education-related health disparities in 2018 was $978 billion, costing the average person $2,988. The findings and recommendations from the study appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Watch the video release, view a visual abstract, or read more.
Lessons Learned from the NIH-led Research Response to COVID-19
Feb. 2, 2023: Leaders from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and partner organizations outlined NIH’s COVID-19 research response in a policy forum in the journal Science. The authors also reflected on crucial lessons learned that will inform the public health research response to future pandemics. The authors emphasized that by building on decades of basic and applied research and convening all sectors in highly collaborative partnerships, the biomedical research community was able to quickly develop vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.
NIH's Climate and Health Initiative Tackles Global Health Effects Associated with a Changing Climate
Nov. 4, 2022: NIH agency leaders, including NIMHD Director Dr. Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, discussed new research plan to address the risk to human health posed by a changing climate in a commentary published in The Lancet. As floods, hurricanes, tornados, wildfires, and heat waves become more extreme, the risk to human health grows, exacerbating existing health threats and creating new public health challenges around the world. Read more.
National Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities Meetings
NIMHD held its 62nd and 63rd National Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NACMHD) meetings. The NACMHD advises the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the NIH Director, and the NIMHD Director on matters related to the Institute’s mission.
The meeting agendas, minutes, and the Director’s reports are available online and recordings of the May 23, 2023 63rd NACMHD and February 7, 2023 62nd NACMHD can be viewed through NIH videocast.
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HDPreApp Program Open Enrollment Period
The NIMHD Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Program (SBIR/STTR) Health Disparities Pre-Application Program (HDPreApp) has begun accepting applications for its next cohort on a rolling basis. NIMHD HDPreApp is a free program open to all Phase I, Direct, and Fast-Track Phase II SBIR/STTR funding applicants with an application that is focused on populations that experience health disparities. The program provides selected businesses expert coaching and technical support aimed at improving the technical merit (scientific and commercial) of their applications. Learn more about the program.
Health Disparities Research Institute 2023 Scholars
NIMHD opened the application period and selected the next cohort for the Health Disparities Research Institute (HDRI) program, which will be held from August 7-11, 2023. HDRI is a unique weeklong training program that supports the research career development of promising early-career, minority health and health disparities research scientists.
The program will feature:
- Lectures on minority health and health disparities research
- Mock grant reviews
- Seminars and small group discussions
- Opportunities to directly engage with NIH scientific staff
Learn more about the program.
National Minority Health Month 2023
NIMHD celebrated National Minority Health Month (NMHM) in April through various activities to raise awareness about the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minority communities and reducing health disparities. The 2023 NMHM theme, Better Health Through Better Understanding, focused on addressing how we can improve health literacy and support the cultural and linguistic needs of our communities.
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As the NIH lead for the observance, NIMHD promoted NMHD through a variety of activities:
- A return of the NIH-wide Minority Health 5K Walk/Run/Roll held on the NIH main campus for the first time since 2019
- An NIH-wide health literacy campaign that defined common health conditions and medical terms in plain language, while sharing health literacy and language access resources
- Shared social media messages to help empower communities to lead healthier lives
- A seminar on the Effects of Comprehensive Care in Socioeconomically Diverse Minority Population
Read more.
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Leaving No One Behind
NIMHD hosted a Leaving No One Behind: Interventions that Address Systems and Structures to Reduce Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Disparities webinar on June 15, 2023. Speakers and panelists conducting research in diverse settings discussed policy- and systems-level interventions and community-based services for improving care and delivery among populations disproportionately affected by HCV. NIMHD Deputy Director Dr. Monica Webb Hooper provided the opening remarks. The webinar was part of the NIH Research Advancing Hepatitis Elimination webinar series, an NIH and Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination initiative. Learn more about the coalition and the event.
Vivek H. Murthy Distinguished Lecture Series for Public Health Leadership
NIMHD and the NIH Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) hosted the third Dr. Vivek H. Murthy Distinguished Lecture Series for Public Health Leadership fireside chat with the 19th and 21st U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy. The event, titled Strengthening Public Health Through People, Trust, and Connection, was in celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and featured conversations between Dr. Murthy and Dr. Dave A. Chokshi, New York City Former Commissioner of Health. Their discussion focused on Dr. Chokshi’s work to address public trust, mental health, misinformation, and health disparities among AANHPI communities.
Dr. Monica Webb Hooper, Deputy Director of NIMHD, moderated the discussion and Dr. Rena D’Souza, Director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research at NIH, introduced the event. Watch the videocast.
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Addressing Racial and Ethnic Healthcare Disparities Related to Algorithms
In March 2023, NIMHD and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) hosted a meeting to explore the current use of computer algorithms in healthcare, their impact on racial/ethnic disparities in care, and approaches to identify and mitigate existing biases; and to learn about the state of the science and current perspectives from the field. A follow-up May 15, 2023, meeting presented draft guiding principles for preventing or mitigating healthcare algorithm-related biases that affect racial and ethnic minority populations experiencing health disparities, and it also offered attendees a chance to provide their feedback. Read the AHRQ Evidence Report or learn more about the project.
Inclusive Participation in Clinical Research Workshop
On March 30 and 31, 2023 NIMHD hosted, in collaboration with other NIH Institutes and Centers, the NIH Workshop on Inclusive Participation in Clinical Research. The workshop built on the 2021-2025 NIH Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan’s goal—to “ensure appropriate representation of minority and other health disparity populations in NIH-funded research”—and convened prominent experts to discuss how to increase inclusivity in study design, analysis, and participant recruitment.
Over 2 days, expert panelists, speakers, and attendees explored evidence-based best practices and methods to increase inclusion of participants from underrepresented populations in clinical research, with an emphasis on the inclusion of individuals from racial and ethnic minority populations. Speakers presented on key activities and decision-points at every stage in the research process, including before the study, during the study, and after the study; discussed best practices for conducting clinical research with underrepresented populations; and highlighted the perspectives of community-based and patient advocacy organizations on inclusive participation in clinical research through panel discussions. Attendees also participated in a networking session with colleagues and experts across different fields, sectors, and organizations, which resulted in a lively conversation about clinical research.
You can view the agenda online, or watch NIH Videocasts of Day 1 and Day 2.
Health Disparities Among Sexual and Gender Minorities Workshop
NIMHD held a 2-day workshop on health disparities among sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations on March 1–2, 2023. Speakers and panelists explored research gaps in data sources, causes of health disparities, and interventions to mitigate health disparities. The workshop brought together a diverse set of researchers with expertise on health outcomes, including cancer, mental/behavioral health, cardiovascular disease, and pandemic-related disparities among SGM populations. View the agenda or watch the NIH Videocasts of Day 1 and Day 2 of the workshop.
Former NIH Medical Research Scholar Recognized as Emerging Leader in Medicine
Congratulations to Jordan Juarez, a 2022 NIH Medical Research Scholar Program (MRSP) scholar and Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine fourth-year M.D candidate, on receiving the 2023 AL DÍA News Emerging Leader award. Juarez was the only medical student recognized for an award that honors top Latino doctors in the Philadelphia area.
Juarez served in NIMHD Director Dr. Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable’s Minority Health and Health Disparities Laboratory at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute where he devoted his time to internal medical research and practice and the promotion of equitable care for all communities. Read more.
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ScHARe: A New Social Science Data Repository & Research Collaboration Platform
NIH launched Science Collaborative for Health disparities and Artificial intelligence bias REduction (ScHARe), an innovative cloud-based platform for population science including social determinants of health (SDOH) data sets designed to accelerate research in health disparities, health care delivery outcomes and artificial intelligence (AI) bias mitigation strategies. ScHARe aims to fill three critical gaps —
- Foster research collaborations and increase participation of women and underrepresented populations experiencing health disparities in data science.
- Leverage research opportunities afforded by Big Data and cloud computing.
- Advance AI bias mitigation and ethical inquiry by developing innovative strategies and securing diverse perspectives.
ScHARe also offers training through its Think-a-Thon interactive webinar series. Think-a-Thons are for educators, researchers, data scientists, students and anyone interested in health disparities and health care delivery research or for data scientists who want to engage in practical applications of AI and AI bias mitigation—all disciplines, levels of background knowledge, and career levels are welcome to participate. They aim to help everyone—including people from populations underrepresented in science—advance their use of the platform and provide training in the use of cloud resources. Additionally, Think-a-Thons foster research collaborations and advanced AI bias mitigation. Recordings of past Think-a-Thons are available to view on demand on YouTube.
The ScHARe platform and its Think-a-Thons are sponsored by NIMHD and the National Institute on Nursing Research. Learn more about ScHARe.
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2023 William G. Coleman Jr., Ph.D., Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Innovation Award Recipients Announced
NIMHD announced the recipients of the seventh William G. Coleman Jr., Ph.D., Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Innovation Award. Congratulations to:
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Kaitlyn Lawrence, Ph.D., National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
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Rupsha Singh, Ph.D., National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
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Paula Strassle, Ph.D., MSPH, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
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Jennifer Woo, Ph.D., MPH, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
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Charlita Worthy, M.D., MPH, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
This competitive award supports 1-year innovative research projects by postdoctoral fellows, staff scientists, and staff clinicians within the NIH Intramural Research Program have a high potential to positively impact minority health and health disparities research.
The award honors Dr. Coleman, a distinguished member of the scientific community and former scientific director of NIMHD’s Intramural Research Program, who dedicated himself to mentoring and training future scientists in health disparities research. Learn about each awardee and their proposed research.
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Scholars Announced for the NIH Class for Climate and Health Scholars Program
NIMHD visiting scholar Lauren Clay, Ph.D., MPH, was selected as one of eight scholars for the inaugural Climate and Health Scholars Program. The program is part of the NIH Climate Change and Health Initiative, an NIH-wide effort to reduce health threats from climate change across the lifespan and build health resilience in individuals, communities, and nations around the world, especially among those at the highest risk. The selected scholars will work with NIH to reduce health threats from climate change and build resilience in communities worldwide.
Dr. Clay is a disaster science and food insecurity expert. Her public health research focuses on individual, household, and community health impacts of climate disasters. Outside of her role at NIMHD, Dr. Clay is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Emergency Health Services at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Read more about her and all the selected scholars.
First NIMHD-Sponsored NIH-Rwandan Research Fellow Appointed Minister of Youth in Rwanda
Congratulations to Dr. Jean Nepo Utumatwishima, the first graduate of the NIH-Rwandan Health Program on his recent appointment as Minister of Youth in Rwanda. In 2017, Dr. Utumatwishima became the first graduate of the yearlong NIH-Rwanda fellowship program, which trains a Rwandan physician to become a clinician scientist. The program is designed to develop a clinical research workforce in Rwanda by turning trainees into independent scientists and, ultimately, into leaders in public health. NIMHD and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases jointly sponsor the program.
Dr. Utumatwishima’s appointment as Minister of Youth was announced on March 24, 2023. Look back at Dr. Utumatwishima’s NIH research fellowship.
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Anna María Nápoles, Ph.D., M.P.H. Retired
Dr. Anna María Nápoles retired from public service on February 28, 2023. She joined NIMHD in November 2017 and became the first Latina Scientific Director of an Intramural Research program at NIH.
Dr. Nápoles lead the growth and expansion of the institute’s Division of Intramural Research to now include one senior investigator and six tenure-track investigators and the laboratory of the National Institute on Nursing Research Director Shannon Zenk. Through its three branches, researchers are making discoveries in social and behavioral sciences, population and community health sciences, and epidemiology and genetics. As stated by Dr. Pérez-Stable, NIMHD owes much gratitude to Dr. Nápoles for the solid foundation she built over the past five years to support a robust Intramural Research Program at NIMHD.
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The Intractability of Health Disparities: Where Do We Go from Here?
During Black History Month, the NIMHD Director’s Seminar Series lecture featured Consuelo H. Wilkins, M.D, MCSI, Senior Vice President and Senior Associate Dean for Health Equity and Inclusive Excellence at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).
At VUMC, Dr. Wilkins oversees a portfolio of programs in clinical research, education, and population health. She is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and a widely recognized thought leader in health equity research. She has pioneered new approaches to engaging populations who are marginalized and socioeconomically disadvantaged in clinical research.
You can view Dr. Wilkins’ presentation on The Intractability of Health Disparities: Where Do We Go from Here? on NIH videocast.
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Effects of Comprehensive Care in a Socioeconomically Diverse Minority Population
For National Minority Health Month, the NIMHD Director’s Seminar Series featured David O. Meltzer, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine at the University of Chicago.
Dr. Meltzer also holds faculty appointments in the Departments of Medicine and Economics, as well as the Harris School of Public Policy Studies. His research explores problems in health economics and public policy with a focus on the theoretical foundations of medical cost-effectiveness analysis and the cost and quality of care, especially in teaching hospitals. He has developed and studied the Comprehensive Care Physician (CCP) model. This model seeks to improve outcomes for patients at increased risk of hospitalization by allowing them to receive inpatient and outpatient care from the same doctor.
You can view Dr. Meltzer’s presentation on the Effects of Comprehensive Care in a Socioeconomically Diverse Minority Population on NIH videocast.
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Improve Rheumatic Disease/Decrease Disability in American Indians
In November the NIMHD Director’s Seminar Series featured Judith A. James, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President of Clinical Affairs and Chair of Arthritis and Clinical Immunology at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Titled Improve Rheumatic Disease/Decrease Disability in American Indians, the presentation shared insights from Dr. James’ 20-year experience in leading research teams focused on understanding the causes and mechanisms of autoimmune disease onset, the evolution of autoantibodies, and the interplay of genes and environment in systemic autoimmunity. Watch the videocast of her presentation.
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Reducing Health Disparities in Hispanic Families: 20 Years of Research, Lessons Learned, and Opportunities
A recent NIMHD Director’s Seminar Series featured guest speaker Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs at the University of Miami, Guillermo (Willy) Prado, Ph.D. Dr. Prado’s lecture, Reducing Health Disparities in Hispanic Families: 20 Years of Research, Lessons Learned, and Opportunities, provided insight on existing health disparities among Hispanic/Latinx youth; went over Familias Unidas, a preventive intervention for Hispanic sexual minority youth and their families; and offered lessons learned and opportunities for future research. Watch the videocast of his lecture.
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NIMHD at American Public Health Association Annual Conference
NIMHD staff presented at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo conference. Both researchers and scientific program staff presented on various topics related to minority health and health disparities research.
Lessons from the work of 21 state-based NIH’s Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities teams were showcased at the conference and a virtual workshop focused on the science of community-engaged health disparities research. Learn about the findings in this NIH Record article.
NIH CEAL is an initiative co-led by NIMHD and NHLBI was also represented through a workshop and several presentations by staff. CEAL provides trustworthy information through active community engagement and outreach to the people hardest-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the goal of building long-lasting partnerships and improving diversity and inclusion in COVID-19 research.
Learn more about the presentation topics or view this Twitter moment for a highlight of engagement.
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NIMHD Postbac Fellows Share Path, Inspiration Behind Their Posters
Two postbac fellows recently shared about their path to NIMHD and what propels their research interests.
What do you do when your lab work is being shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic? If you’re like Vincent Lam, you teach yourself to code. Learn how this NIMHD Postbac Fellow used NIH All of Us Data to develop the U.S. Health Disparities Browser.
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Sydney Barlow was disheartened to witness firsthand how health care access issues in Ghana were the same as back home in Pittsburgh. She channeled those emotions and used them to propel her research into structural racism and marginalization via skin tone discrimination.
Both Lam and Barlow presented their minority health and health disparities research during this year’s Postbac Poster Days, along with 13 other NIMHD postbac fellows. Read more.
Conversations with Principle Investigators in 2023
During Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May), NIMHD celebrated the significant contributions of people representing Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities who have made significant contributions to America—from its history to present day. NIMHD also recognized researchers who are promoting health equity through their work funded through NIMHD’s Small Business Innovation Research/Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Program.
Swati Shah
Principal Investigator & CFO
Fetal Life, LLC.
Ann Arbor, MI
Swati Shah discussed her NIMHD-funded work and using technology to make obstetrical health care more accessible. Read the conversation.
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Tony Ma, M.S.
Principal Investigator & Social Entrepreneur
Benten Technologies, Inc.
Manassas, VA
Tony Ma shared about using technology to improve maternal and child health and reduce health disparities.
Read the conversation.
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During Black History Month (February). NIMHD celebrate the significant contributions of people representing Black and African American communities who have made significant contributions to America—from its history to present day. NIMHD also recognized researchers who are promoting health equity through their work funded through NIMHD’s Small Business Innovation Research/Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Program.
Susan Woolford, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP
Principal Investigator & Associate Professor
University of Michigan, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
Ann Arbor, MI
Dr. Susan Woolford shared her journey to develop novel technology to help children achieve healthy weight. Read the conversation.
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Dexter Cooper, M.P.H.
Principal Investigator
KDH Research & Communication
Atlanta, GA
Dexter Cooper, discussed search, discusses the importance of engaging community leaders and empowering health workers to improve health equity. Read the conversation.
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Conversations with Principle Investigators in 2022
During Native American Heritage Month (November), NIMHD celebrated the significant contributions to America by people who represent Native communities by recognizing researchers who are promoting health equity through their work to advance the science of minority health and health disparities.
Evan J. White, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator & Director
Laureate Institute for Brian Research
Tulsa, OK
Dr. White discussed integrating clinical cultural neuroscience to promote mental health outcomes among American Indian communities and the protective role of cultural engagement. Read the conversation.
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Francine C. Gachupin, Ph.D., MPH
Principal Investigator & Associate Professor
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ
Dr. Gachupin discussed her study of chronic disease epidemiology, American Indian health disparities, and how her experience working with Tribal Epidemiology Centers informs her research. Read the conversation.
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During National Hispanic American Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15), NIMHD acknowledged the significant contributions to America by people who represent Hispanic and Latino communities. We highlighted researchers who are promoting health equity through their work to advance the science of minority health and health disparities.
Jaime Perales Puchalt, Ph.D., MPH
Principal Investigator & Associate Professor
University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
Kansas City, KS
Dr. Perales Puchalt, principal investigator at University of Kansas, discussed his research on disparities in dementia care for Latino families and how he and his team are closing the gap. Read the conversation.
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Eva M. Moya, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator & Interim Chair/Associate Professor
The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX
Dr. Moya discussed her work to translate research into action to mitigate the effects of HPV for Latino populations of Mexican origin. Read the conversation.
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NIMHD grantees and staff advance the science of minority health and health disparities through collaborative, integrative, and multidisciplinary research. Our investigators seek to understand the complex mechanisms that contribute to health disparities, develop multi-level interventions, support efforts to train and develop a diverse research workforce, and work towards improving minority health and reducing health disparities.
Visit this page for a full list of recent research publications.
 Community Members as Reviewers of Medical Journal Manuscripts
Conducting research may involve community members’ (e.g., patients or caregivers) participation. This means that they may have knowledge and experience that can be used to improve the quality of manuscripts submitted to medical journals for publication.
However, journal editors do not typically include community members in the scientific review process due to concerns that they lack basic knowledge about research issues and methods or scientific language or data analyses, among others.
A new NIMHD-funded study determined whether community members can review medical manuscripts and provide useful feedback. Learn more.
Acculturation and Depression Are Associated with Sleep Problems Among Mexican Americans
Sleep problems affect millions of U.S. adults. However, people from racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected due to several risk factors.
A recent NIMHD-funded study examined the link between acculturation—length of stay in the United States and majority language spoken at home—depression and sleep problems among Mexican American adults. Learn more.
Neighborhood Poverty can Contribute to Health Problems Later in Life, but Attachment Style in Personal Relationships May Help
Neighborhood poverty and the challenging living conditions associated with it—such as higher vigilance, lower trust, and environmental dangers—have been linked to accumulation of stress that can contribute to cellular aging and health problems later in life. But research has suggested that close relationships can help buffer this stress.
A recent study supported by NIMHD examined the relationship between attachment experiences and accelerated cellular aging among African American young adults who grew up in impoverished rural neighborhoods. The researchers found that participants who had lower attachment avoidance in romantic relationships had lower levels of cellular aging, pointing to the importance of relationship attachments for physical health. Learn more.
U.S. Rural Counties Have Higher Death Rates from Diabetes Than More Urbanized Environments
Diabetes requires lifelong care. Accessing that care may be more difficult in some places—such as rural areas—than in others. People who live in rural areas may also be at higher risk for developing diabetes.
In a recently published NIMHD-funded study using annual diabetes mortality rate data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers looked beyond the national mortality rates to examine the results based on how rural or urban an area was. Learn more.
Medical Schools’ Responses to Race-Related News Events Affect Black Medical Students’ Mental Health
Experiencing racism can be hard on physical and mental health. In medical schools, the stress that comes from structural racism is an additional burden that Black students and faculty bear. In addition to experiencing racism personally, Black medical students witnessed several “seminal race events” during the spring and summer of 2020. In May alone, videos of the murders of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd became public, leading to protests and civil unrest across the globe. All of these took place against the backdrop of massive health disparities in COVID-19 deaths, which disproportionately affected Black/African American people.
A new study funded by NIMHD has found that the stress caused by racism and racial unrest can affect the mental health of Black students. These findings are based on responses to a survey conducted in 2020. This research suggests that medical schools can do more to help Black students’ mental health and to help them succeed by implementing policies that combat discrimination. Learn more.
Prenatal Care Coverage Increases Treatment for Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a common medical condition during pregnancy, and failure to treat it can create severe risks for maternal and fetal health. High-quality pre- and postnatal health care can diagnose this condition and help people manage it through diet, exercise and, when needed, medication. Medicaid covers both prenatal and postpartum care for many people in the United States who have lower incomes. But current federal law requires citizenship or 5 years of permanent residency for Medicaid eligibility.
A recent study funded by NIMHD evaluated whether extending emergency Medicaid coverage for prenatal care could help improve outcomes. The researchers looked at whether access to prenatal care affected health outcomes for Latina patients with gestational diabetes. They found that expanded prenatal care coverage was associated with significant increases in use of antidiabetic medication, including insulin, among people with gestational diabetes. Learn more.
Poor Diet Quality, Food Insecurity, and Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is more common in all U.S. racial and ethnic minority groups than in non-Hispanic White populations. Uncontrolled T2D significantly raises the risk of serious complications, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and stroke. Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet is a critical part of managing T2D and can be challenging for people experiencing food insecurity.
A recent NIMHD-funded study analyzed the impact of food security, diet quality, and other factors on T2D management. The researchers found that having a poor-quality diet; living with food insecurity; being Black or African American, or Hispanic or Latino; and not having access to health care correlate with a higher risk of uncontrolled T2D. Learn more.
Gun-related Deaths Disproportionately Higher Among Black Youth
A new study recently published in JAMA found that gun-related death rate among Black youths was disproportionately higher than among other groups. Researchers compared firearm-related death rates for Black, White, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Asian or Pacific Islander populations. According to the researchers, the increase in firearm-related mortality between 2019 and 2020 may be related to the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest. They also noted that strategic and effective public health interventions to reduce gun violence and prevent firearm-related deaths among U.S. youth are warranted.
Led by NIMHD researchers, the study assessed the differences in the overall burden of firearm-related mortality among youths aged 1 to 19 years from 1999 to 2020. NIMHD’s Division of Intramural Research and NIH’s Distinguished Scholars Program supported the study. Learn more.
Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Hispanic/Latino Youth
Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), has made understanding youth mental health disparities a research priority at NIMH. In a July 2023 issue of NIMHD Insights, Dr. Gordon discusses NIMH’s Strategic Framework for Addressing Youth Mental Health Disparities. NIMH developed this strategic framework in collaboration with multiple partners across NIH, including NIMHD. Read the blog to learn how NIMH is working to improve mental health for Hispanic/Latino youth.
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Genomic Diversity for Health Equity: My Journey from Colombia to NIMHD
NIMHD Intramural Investigator Leonardo Mariño-Ramírez, Ph.D., authored a recent Insights Blog that discussed his efforts to help close the genetic research gap— which is that most human genetics research cohorts consist chiefly of participants with European genetic ancestry. Dr. Mariño-Ramírez’s lab focuses on how genetics, the environment, and improving genomic diversity can be leveraged to support improved health for all populations. Read the blog.
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Tobacco Endgame: Improving Outcomes for People from Marginalized Communities
On World No Tobacco Day (May 31, 2023), NIH researchers published a blog about their work to illuminate disparities in tobacco use by social characteristics and to demonstrate the significant harm to population health caused by the tobacco industry. Their goal is to inform policies and interventions for improving poor health outcomes associated with tobacco use. Read the blog.
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Honoring Trailblazing Women in the Pursuit of Health Equity
A Women’s History Month blog by Triesta Fowler, M.D. (NIMHD Scientific Diversity Officer) and Monica Webb Hooper, Ph.D. (NIMHD Deputy Director) honored past and present female pioneers who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of health equity. Read the blog.
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Advancing the Health and Wellbeing of Black and Latino Sexual Minority Men
Jordan J. White, Dr.PH, MSW, from Morgan State University is passionate about understanding the gaps in HIV care. He is also working on strategies to address COVID-19 and Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) vaccine hesitancy among Black and Latino sexual minority men. In 2021, Dr. White received an NIMHD Diversity Supplement award. Read the blog.
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It Takes a Village: Community Support and the Fortification of Health among Black or African American Youth
Triesta Fowler, M.D., NIMHD Scientific Diversity Officer, and Monica Webb Hooper, Ph.D., NIMHD Deputy Director, believe it takes a village for Black children to thrive. They shared their views about the benefits of community-level social support and fictive kin for Black children in the National Library of Medicine’s Musings from the Mezzanine blog during Black History Month. Read the blog.
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NIMHD Insights Blog Gets a Makeover; Highlights Top 5 Posts of 2022
NIMHD Insights welcomed 2023 with a new look and address for the blog site and a highlight of the top 5 most popular blog posts. The blog continues to highlight research, resources, and the people diligently working to eliminate health disparities and improve health for minority populations. Read the blog.
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A Partnership Between Researchers and the Navajo Nation to Study a Junk Food Tax
A guest-authored blog by researchers from Northern Arizona University and the Navajo Epidemiology Center discussed the value of their partnership and how it has advanced the needs of both the Navajo Nation and the research community. They discussed their collaborative work around The Healthy Diné Nation Act of 2014 and how they were able to evaluate and further expand the initiative. Junk food tax laws provide an example of how a tribe can develop and implement a policy guided and developed by and for its people. Read the blog.
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The Dementia Epidemic Among Older Black Americans
During Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Mark D. Hayward, Ph.D., from the University of Texas at Austin and Mateo P. Farina, Ph.D., from the University of Southern California, shared their research about how life course origins impact dementia risks. While much is known about the different rates of dementia risks, little is understood about why these disparities occur between Black and White Americans.
They hope their research will help uncover the racial and ethnic differences in dementia prevalence and risk factors in the United States. Read the blog.
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Helping Youth from Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups Access Effective Attention-Deficit, Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment
A November Insights blog by Lauren Haack, Ph.D., associate professor in the UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, shared her thoughts on ADHD treatments, barriers that impact people from racial and ethnic minority communities, how to implement services more equitably, and more.
Dr. Haack is a prior NIMHD Health Disparities Research Institute Scholar who, through her work, aims to increase evidence-based treatments for youth from underserved communities in need of behavioral health resources. Read the blog.
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Dr. Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable Encourages Scientific and Medical Workforce Diversity
In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Dr. Pérez-Stable was featured in the Chief Officer for Science Workforce Diversity’s (COSWD) blog. Read more about his passion for social justice, what influenced his career, and why it is important to have a diverse scientific and medical workforce.
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Community Organizations Lead Structural Interventions Research with Novel NIH Initiative
Dr. Nathan Stinson, Jr., NIMHD Division of Community Health and Population Science Director, authored a blog that discussed the Community-Led, Health Equity Structural Interventions (CHESI) initiative. This unique initiative from the NIH Common Fund’s ComPASS Program is placing community-based organizations at the helm of structural interventions health research.
Decades of research on health disparities reveals that health inequities are rooted in social disadvantage created by structures, systems and policies. Involving community organizations in research is essential for understanding local structural systems and reducing health disparities. A deep knowledge of social needs and the barriers and pathways to addressing those needs serves as a vital resource we must not overlook. Read the blog to learn more about this initiative.
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Environmental Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer in Overburdened, Understudied Populations
Prostate cancer is the leading form of cancer disparities by race in the United States. Lauren M. Hurwitz, Ph.D., MPH—2022 NIMHD Coleman Awardee and National Cancer Institute Postdoctoral Fellow—authored a blog about her research aimed at understanding the effects of environmental and occupational risk factors for prostate cancer. These risk factors could be contributing to geographic and racial health disparities. Read the blog.
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NIMHD Director Highlights NIH's Collaborative Work on Life Expectancy by Geographic Locations
NIMHD Director Dr. Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable published an article on the NIH Director’s Blog titled, NIH Collaboration Seeks to Help Understand U.S. Burden of Health Disparities: Why Your County Matters. The post discussed the establishment of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) U.S. Health Disparities Collaborators at NIH their work with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington to develop a comprehensive database and interactive data visualization tool that provides life expectancy and all-cause mortality by race and ethnicity for 3,110 U.S. counties from 2000-2019. The research team includes staff from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Cancer Institute; the National Institute on Aging; the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; the NIH Office of Disease Prevention; the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research; and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
The collaborators published a paper in The Lancet that offers the first comprehensive U.S. county-level life expectancy estimates and highlighted significant gaps that persist among racial and ethnic populations. Read more about the study results in the blog.
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NIMHD supports a variety of research, training, infrastructure development, and outreach and information dissemination projects related to its mission using grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts. NIMHD funding opportunities include Requests for Applications (RFAs), Program Announcements (PAs/PARs), and Notices of Changes and Guidelines (NOTs).
You can subscribe to NIMHD’s Weekly NOFO Digest to receive recent NOFOs weekly in your email inbox.
Visit this page to view all active NIMHD funding opportunities and their application details. We encourage you to discuss your proposed research with an NIMHD scientific program officer before applying.
SBIR/STTR Innovations for Healthy Living Funding Opportunity
The Innovations for Healthy Living--Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Optional) Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement (NOFO) leverages the NIH Small Business Innovation Research program’s aim to engage and support small businesses with seed funding (i.e., early-stage investment). This NOFO supports the development of innovative technologies, services, and products that engage, empower, and motivate individuals and communities–including providers and health care institutions–that focus on populations experiencing health disparities. Read the NOFO for detailed information, and contact NIMHD’s SBIR/STTR Program Office at nimhdsbirsttr@mail.nih.gov or any of the Agency Contacts listed in the NOFO, if you have any questions.
STrengthening Research Opportunities for NIH Grants (STRONG)
STRONG Structured Institutional Needs Assessment and Action Plan Development for Resource Limited Institutions (RLIs) (UC2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | NIH Guide Number: PAR-23-144
The STRONG-RLI program will support biomedical research capacity needs assessments by eligible RLIs, as well as use of the assessment results to develop action plans to meet the identified needs. RLIs are defined as institutions with a mission to serve historically underrepresented populations in biomedical research that award degrees in the health profession (including STEM fields and social/behavioral sciences) and have received $0 to $25 million per year in NIH Research Project Grant (RPG) support for the past 3 fiscal years.
The program’s goal is to increase competitiveness in the biomedical research enterprise and foster institutional environments conducive to research career development. Read the NOFO.
View this page for open NIMHD funding opportunities with upcoming expiration dates.
Visit this page for all active NIMHD funding opportunities and their application details.
The National Institutes of Health is excited to share the launch of the new NIH Virtual Tour! This dynamic, interactive tour showcases the depth and breadth of NIH’s important work of turning discovery into health. The tour features 20 in-depth virtual tour stops on the NIH Bethesda campus. Visitors can select the full tour to experience the breadth of NIH’s work or choose special tour tracks, one designed specifically for patients and caregivers interested in NIH clinical trials and one designed for researchers and others to explore opportunities to work, collaborate, or train with us. Each stop features interviews with NIH senior leaders, administrators, and scientists who share information about their work. Additionally, the tour’s interactive map allows users to learn more about buildings, services, and campus-wide amenities, such as parking, shuttle information, cafeterias and cafes, restrooms, lactation rooms, and more. All aspects of the tour are fully accessible to all visitors.
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Through the NIH Virtual Tour, visitors from all over the world can experience NIH and learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we impact health. Please see for yourself and take the NIH Virtual Tour.
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August, 16, 2023 | ScHARe Think-a-Thon – The next ScHARe Think-a-Thon will be held on August 16. ScHARe Think-a-Thons are a series of interactive training webinars that are held on the third Wednesday of each month. They are for teachers, researchers, students and anyone interested in health disparities and health care delivery research or for data scientists who want to engage in practical applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI bias mitigation, and aim to help everyone—including people from populations underrepresented in science—advance their use of the ScHARe platform and provide training in the use of cloud resources. Additionally, Think-a-Thons foster research collaborations.
Learn more about upcoming Think-a-Thon topics or subscribe to the ScHARe listserv to know when registration opens for each webinar.
August 13, 2023 | NIMHD Scientific Director Job Call – NIMHD is seeking a Scientific Director to lead the Division of Intramural Research. We invite applications from all candidates with scientific leadership and/or senior-level research experience in research programs of national and international standing in an area relevant to the field of minority health and health disparities. Read the full details about this opportunity, candidate requirements, and how to apply. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 13.
September 21, 2023 | NIMHD Director’s Seminar Series (DSS) – The next NIMHD DSS will be held on September 21 and will feature Alicia Frenandez, M.D. DSS presentations are a series of virtual lectures that highlight prominent researchers advancing the science of minority health and health disparities. Learn about Dr. Fernandez and register once registration opens.
Congratulations to Faustine Williams, Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator, on being part of a research team that received the Betty J. Cleckley Minority Issues Award at the 2022 American Public Health Association (APHA) annual meeting. The award recognizes individuals in aging and public health research who have significantly impacted the lives of older people who are members of minority groups.
Congratulations to Triesta Fowler, current NIMHD Scientific Diversity Officer, on receiving a Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Director’s Award for her previous work at NICHD. Dr. Fowler-Lee and her colleagues on the DIR Taskforce Team also received an NICHD Champion – Diversity & Inclusion Award, an award that recognizes employees who have made significant contributions in promoting diversity.
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