NASHVILLE, Tenn. The Precision Medicine and Health Disparities Collaborative (PMHDC) is pleased to announce the Pilot Research Awards for Year 4. This year, the PMHDC will sponsor these research projects:

• A Pilot Study to Develop a Placental Cytotrophoblast Cell Atlas in a Racially Diverse Population to Better Understand the Role of Maternal Obesity and Fetal Development (State: TN) – Digna R. Velez- Edwards, PhD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Precision Medicine and Health Disparities: The Influence of Area-Level Deprivation on Immune Infiltration and Ovarian Cancer Survival (State: TN) – Alicia Beeghly Fadiel, MPH, PhD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

The goal of the PMHDC Pilots Program is to bolster collaboration and galvanize cutting edge research addressing health disparities, making use of methods that bridge precision medicine and both social and behavioral health.

About the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance

Founded in 1999, the Alliance bridges the institutions of Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Its mission is to enrich learning and advance clinical research in three primary areas -- community engagement, interprofessional education and research -- by developing and supporting mutually beneficial partnerships between Meharry Medical College, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the communities they serve. Through community engagement, the Alliance serves a large community of stakeholders including surrounding universities and colleges, community organizations, faith-based outlets and community health centers. Its interprofessional education enhances students' interdisciplinary understanding and improves patient outcomes through integrated care. The research conducted provides access to experienced grant writers and materials supporting the grant application process and facilitates grant-writing workshops.