Improving Health for Diverse Communities in Minnesota
Official title: Center for Chronic Disease Reduction and Equity Promotion Across Minnesota (C2DREAM)
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11160640 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This center works to reduce chronic diseases like heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity in Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities across Minnesota.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2021 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $5,415,620 |
| NIH project number | 5P50MD017342-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11160640 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This center's work is relevant to Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities, including immigrants and refugees, living in Minnesota who are affected by or at risk for chronic diseases like heart disease, hypertension, and obesity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside of Minnesota or those not part of the specific BIPOC communities targeted by the interventions may not directly benefit from this particular center's programs.
What this research studies
This center focuses on understanding and addressing how racism contributes to health differences in chronic conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity among Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities in Minnesota. We plan to develop and test new programs in communities and clinics to improve diet, physical activity, and help with quitting smoking. Our goal is to create lasting solutions that tackle the root causes of health inequities and support the well-being of diverse populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to healthier lives and fewer chronic diseases for BIPOC communities in Minnesota.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of this center is innovative, community-based interventions for chronic disease prevention have shown success in other settings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Allen, Michele L — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Allen, Michele L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Genomic risk tools to guide chronic disease care in adults
A program uses genetic risk scores along with health history to tailor prevention and early care for adults with chronic diseases.
-
How Economic Tough Times Affect Health Habits in Older Adults with HIV
This study looks at how living with limited money changes how older adults with HIV take medicines and use preventive health services.
-
Comprehensive food testing to prevent illness and protect health
This grant funds a program to test foods for dangerous chemicals and microbes to help keep people healthy and reduce chronic disease linked to food exposure.
-
Understanding how multiple health problems cluster in aging people with HIV
This grant looks at how social factors and multiple health conditions come together to affect aging in people living with HIV.
-
Arctic Ground Squirrels as a Model to Discover Treatments for Metabolic Diseases
Researchers are creating a new animal model using Arctic ground squirrels to uncover natural metabolic tricks that could lead to therapies for human conditions like diabetes and muscle wasting.
-
Real-time sensor network to track inflammatory cytokines in chronic illness
This project develops tiny injectable sensors that continuously track inflammatory proteins to better understand and eventually help manage chronic conditions like autoimmune disease, cancer, and heart disease.
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.