Improving data collection to understand life disparities in the U.S.
Official title: A Next Generation Data Infrastructure to Understand Disparities across the Life Course
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-10903715 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to learn more about the everyday lives of families in the U.S., especially focusing on differences among various racial and economic groups, and it invites people from Black, Asian, and Hispanic communities to share their experiences through surveys and other fun methods.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $8,400,676 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AG077280-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10903715 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation include U.S. residents from diverse racial and socio-economic backgrounds, particularly those who identify as Black, Asian, or Hispanic.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not reside in the U.S. or do not belong to the targeted racial and socio-economic groups may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the collection of data regarding the daily lives of U.S. families and individuals, focusing on understanding disparities across different racial and socio-economic groups. By utilizing a combination of survey data, wearables, and other innovative methods, the project seeks to gather more accurate and detailed information than traditional surveys allow. The study will expand the existing Understanding America Study to include a larger and more diverse sample, specifically targeting Black, Asian, and Hispanic populations. Participants will be engaged through various means, including surveys in English and Spanish, to ensure comprehensive representation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and addressing of health and social disparities faced by various racial and socio-economic groups.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research utilizing similar data collection methods has shown promise in understanding social disparities, making this approach both innovative and grounded in prior success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kapteyn, Arie — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Kapteyn, Arie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
RNA dysregulation in a rare childhood brain disorder (PCH1b)
Researchers are studying a rare genetic brain disease in young children to understand how RNA processing goes wrong and leads to damage in the cerebellum and brainstem.
-
Studying how diverse signals come from similar molecules at glutamatergic synapses
A project at a university explores how synapses in the brain create different signals from a shared set of molecules, using a fruit-fly model to understand how this could relate to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
-
How brain chemicals may influence tau clumps in Alzheimer’s disease
A study from USC explores how certain brain chemicals might influence the clumping of tau protein related to Alzheimer’s disease, aiming to identify factors that could affect disease progression.
-
GLP-1 medicines and brain health: real-world clues about dementia risk
A nationwide study will follow adults 21 and older using GLP-1 medicines to see how these drugs relate to memory, thinking, and dementia risk in real life.
-
Male pesticide exposure and reproductive health through epigenetics
This project looks at how a man’s exposure to pesticides might affect his fertility and the health of his future children through changes in DNA.
-
Global effort to harmonize fMRI findings in psychiatry
A large, international effort will standardize how brain MRI data are collected and analyzed in people with various mental health conditions to improve consistency and discovery.
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.