Examining how school racial segregation affects heart health in young people.
Official title: Leveraging a Natural Experiment to Estimate the Effects of School Racial Segregation on Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Youth and Young Adults
Funded at Harvard School of Public Health · NIH-10901155 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how going to racially segregated schools affects heart health in Black students and young adults, exploring how stress and fewer opportunities might lead to higher risks of heart problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2020 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $558,108 |
| NIH project number | 7R01HL151638-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10901155 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Black youth and young adults aged 12 to 21 who have experienced racial segregation in their schooling.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not within the age range of 12 to 21 or who do not identify as Black may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of school racial segregation on cardiovascular risk factors among youth and young adults, particularly focusing on Black students. It aims to understand how attending racially segregated schools may contribute to increased stress, discrimination, and limited socioeconomic opportunities, which can lead to higher rates of cardiovascular diseases. By utilizing a natural experiment approach, the study links court decisions on school segregation to health outcomes, providing valuable insights into the long-term effects of educational environments on heart health. The research seeks to fill a critical gap in understanding the relationship between educational experiences and cardiovascular health disparities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved educational policies that promote healthier environments for youth, potentially reducing cardiovascular disease risk in future generations.
How similar studies have gone: While there is existing literature on educational impacts on health, this specific approach examining recent trends in school segregation and cardiovascular risk factors is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hamad, Rita — Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Hamad, Rita
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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.