MIAMI, Fla. The Consortium Core of the Precision Medicine and Health Disparities Collaborative (PMHDC) is pleased to announce approval of funding to pilot research projects in the Southeast region for Year 2. The PMHDC awarded three projects for Year 1 to the following:
- Integrating precision medicine into cancer navigation programs for underrepresented populations (State: TN) – Melinda C. Aldrich, PhD, MPH, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Investigation of the causes of health disparities in African-American with coronary artery disease on clopidogrel (State: TN) – John Cleator, MD, PhD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and John J. Murray, MD, PhD, Meharry Medical College
- Personalizing care for patients at risk for sudden cardiac death using phenotypic and genotypic profiles (State: FL) – Leonardo Tamariz, MD, MPH, University of Miami
The goal of these one-year pilot projects is to strengthen collaboration and motivate innovative research addressing health disparities using approaches that bridge precision medicine (PM) and social and behavioral health.
In addition, the PMHDC awarded two mentored pilot projects to early stage investigators:
- Identify new genetic determinants of low triglycerides in blacks (State: TN) – QiPeng Feng, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Fine-mapping genetic loci for association with circulating vitamin D levels in African American participants of the southern community cohort study (State: TN) – Shaneda Warren-Andersen, PhD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
The next cycle of pilot project funding will be announced in the spring of 2018. For additional information and details, please contact Brendaly Rodríguez at brodriguez@med.miami.edu.
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.
