Advancing Health Equity for Underserved Communities
Official title: Interdisciplinary Health Research (IHER) Center
Funded at Delaware State University · NIH-11373762 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This center aims to understand and reduce health differences that affect people in underserved communities, including those facing conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Delaware State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dover, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $43,301 |
| NIH project number | 3U54MD015959-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373762 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This center's work is relevant to individuals and communities experiencing health disparities, particularly those from racial, ethnic, and low-income backgrounds, and those affected by conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not part of communities experiencing health disparities or who are not affected by the specific conditions being studied by the center's researchers may not directly benefit from this particular grant.
What this research studies
Our nation faces significant health differences based on race, ethnicity, and income, which became even clearer during the COVID-19 pandemic. This center at Delaware State University is dedicated to finding solutions for these health disparities, particularly for conditions that disproportionately affect minority and low-income populations. We bring together experts in social, behavioral, and medical sciences to explore the root causes of these differences. Our goal is to develop new ways to improve health outcomes and promote fairness in health for everyone.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could lead to a better understanding of health disparities and the development of new strategies and interventions to improve health for underserved communities.
How similar studies have gone: Research centers focused on health equity have proven successful in fostering collaborative science and driving progress in understanding and addressing health disparities.
Where this research is happening
-
Delaware State University
Dover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harrington, Melissa a — Delaware State University
- Study coordinator: Harrington, Melissa a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Building Research Capacity at an Historically Black University
This grant helps Delaware State University strengthen its biomedical research program to support students and faculty, with a focus on health disparities and inclusive science.
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Community Engagement & Dissemination Core (CED Core) for Health Equity
A program at Delaware State University partners with Black communities and health professionals to share research findings in ways that improve health in African American communities.
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Investigator Development Core for Health Disparities Research
This grant funds a core that helps researchers from diverse backgrounds study why health disparities exist and how to reduce them, with a focus on COVID-19 impacts and broader infectious and chronic disease outcomes.
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Capacity-building infrastructure to support patients and researchers
A center-supported core aims to strengthen research resources at DSU to advance health equity and benefit patients by enabling higher-quality biomedical, behavioral, and translational studies.
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Role of Social Factors in Mental, Sleep, and Physical Health
A study at Delaware State University looks at how social conditions influence sleep, mental and physical health, especially in racial/ethnic minority groups.
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Machine learning imaging biomarkers for diabetes and age-related diseases
A large, doctor-led project uses AI to analyze medical scans to find imaging patterns that reflect diabetes and aging, aiming to help people understand and manage these conditions better.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.