精东AV Researchers Receive Over $20 Million, Five Year Grant for 鈥淏ridging the Health Disparity Gap through Genomics and Social Determinants of Health鈥�

The 精东AV Research Centers in Minority Institutions Center for Biomedical Research (TU RCMI CBR) has received over $20 Million grant award for a five-year period from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). This award is led by the Principal Investigator (PI) and contacts Dr. Deepa Bedi, Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the 精东AV College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM), and Dr. Timothy Turner, Associate Vice President for Health-Related Research.

Dr. Clayton Yates, the previous PI of the university鈥檚 RCMI grant and now the John R. Lewis Endowed Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, built an exceptional legacy at 精东AV (TU) by elevating its national research recognition. This legacy will be carried forward by the two succeeding Multiple-PIs, Drs. Bedi and Turner.

This NIMHD funding is the largest research grant ever awarded to 精东AV, which will partner with local and national health organizations to distribute research results directly to community members. The funding will be used to enhance TU鈥檚 research capacity to conduct cutting-edge biomedical, population, and clinical/health services research, specifically focusing on delivering genomic testing and genotyping services to diverse and underserved populations. Research funded by the NIHMD will help researchers in the CBR develop data-driven solutions tailored to the needs of minority populations.

鈥淥ur ultimate goal is to effectively address and narrow the health disparity gap, especially in the context of evolving healthcare dynamics. This endeavor represents a significant step forward in meeting a critical need that most institutions find challenging. The novel approach of integrating genomics-based research with the social determinants of health (SDOH), sets us apart, as we can seamlessly integrate basic science into translational and clinical health research鈥� said Dr. Bedi.

鈥淭hrough this grant, we are changing the face of health disparity research not only at TU but globally,鈥� said Dr. Turner.

The TU RCMI CBR research team, led by Drs. Bedi, Balu Karanam, and Ehsan Abdalla will focus on diseases that plague minority communities. Their research will explore and highlight the role of obesity in the context of SDOH. This is crucial, especially when considering its potential influence on the aggressiveness of breast cancer in African American (AA) women. By delving deeper into this clinical health research, Dr. Bedi aims to unravel the intricate mechanisms through which obesity might function as a causative agent.

A second project lead by Dr. Karanam, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology, will focus on developing a novel therapeutic that specifically targets AA women with Quadruple Negative Breast Cancer. The last project, led by Dr. Abdalla, Assistant Professor in TUCVM鈥檚 Department of Public Health, will focus on closing the health disparity gap in cervical cancer. Together, these research projects will provide invaluable insights that potentially lead to more effective prevention strategies and tailored treatments for AA women.

To ensure the research findings are disseminated to the community, the RCMI Community Engagement Core, led by Dr. Vivian Carter, Associate Professor and Chair of Psychology, along with Dr. Abdalla, will continue to build and expand its long-term partnerships with community-based organizations. These local and national organizations, such as the Southern Christian Leadership Foundation, the Alabama Wellness Coalition, the Alabama Department of Public Health, the Macon County School System, and the Macon County Healthcare Authority, are programmatically equipped to address health and socioeconomic disparities among disadvantaged populations.

Lastly, this award will support innovative ideas from junior faculty that will develop their careers in health disparities research. Dr. Temesgen Samuel, Associate Dean of Research and Advanced Studies at TUCVM and Leader of the Investigator Development Core, will provide pilot research funding and career development support to 精东AV junior-level faculty. The Research Infrastructure Core, led by Dr. Jason White, will provide state-of-the-art equipment and technology, and the Bioethics Core, led by Dr. Stephen Sodeke, will provide exceptional bioethics education, training, guidance, and consultation throughout every facet of the TU RCMI CBR.

All TU faculty will have access to and support from the three infrastructure-focused cores. This monumental investment by NIMHD in 精东AV to elevate its biomedical research and research infrastructure will attract top-tier researchers and scholars to this campus, and further strengthen the institution's research and academic reputation. 聽