Examining the impact of structural racism on health outcomes using social data
Outlining Shadows of Structural Racism Using Publicly Available Social Determinants of Health Data
This study looks at how unfair treatment based on race affects the health of Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities in the US, by creating a tool that measures the impact of things like housing and education on their health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10695902 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how structural racism affects health outcomes in Black, Latinx, and Indigenous populations in the US. By creating a structural racism effect index that combines publicly available data on various social determinants of health, the study aims to quantify the impact of historical and current racist policies on community health. The index will score neighborhoods based on factors like housing, education, and employment, and will be validated against health outcome data such as life expectancy. This approach seeks to provide a clearer understanding of the relationship between structural racism and health disparities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals from Black, Latinx, and Indigenous populations who are affected by health disparities.
Not a fit: Patients who do not belong to the targeted racial or ethnic groups may not receive direct benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted interventions that address health inequities and improve health outcomes for marginalized communities.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that addressing social determinants of health can lead to improved health outcomes, indicating potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Worcester, United States
- Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester — Worcester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dyer, Zachary — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Dyer, Zachary
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 below.