Interdisciplinary Health Equity Center for Better Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
Official title: Interdisciplinary Health Research (IHER) Center
Funded at Delaware State University · NIH-11368456 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A national-health-disparities focused center aims to improve Alzheimer's diagnostic approaches by bringing together experts from different fields and communities, starting at Delaware State University.
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, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,530,428 |
| NIH project number | 5U54MD015959-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11368456 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals at risk for or suspected of having Alzheimer’s disease, especially from minority and underserved communities.
✕Less likely to help
People without concerns about memory or cognitive changes, or those already in advanced disease stages not targeted by early diagnostic improvements.
What this research studies
This center combines biomedical, behavioral, and social science approaches to understand how health disparities affect Alzheimer’s diagnosis. It leverages Delaware as a microcosm of the U.S. population to study diverse communities and translate findings into more equitable diagnostic practices. The project builds a collaborative research community, supports training, and develops cross-disciplinary methods to advance accurate and timely diagnosis for underserved groups. The work will involve partnerships with communities, clinicians, and researchers to align diagnostic tools with the needs of minority and low-income populations. Overall, it seeks to reduce diagnostic gaps and improve outcomes for people at risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the center could lead to more accurate and timely Alzheimer’s diagnoses for underserved populations, reducing delays in care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous health disparities centers have shown that community-engaged, interdisciplinary approaches improve care and diagnostic practices, though this specific dementia-focused effort is tailored to minority populations.
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
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.