U of M Medical School Receives Grant from National Institutes of Health to Establish Center of Excellence in Minority Health

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (August 12, 2009) — The University of Minnesota Medical School was awarded $6.24 million by the National Institutes of Health to establish a Center for Excellence in Health Disparities Research, Engagement, and Training (CeHDRET) focusing on minority health and health disparities.  More then 30 percent of Minneapolis is composed of ethnic minorities, and this grant will help provide the Medical School with the resources to enhance opportunities for diverse populations and improve minority health overall. 

The CeHDRET will be comprised of four main areas: administration, research training and education, research, and community engagement.  The center will be partnering with Historically Black Colleges and Universities to extend invitations to students from other schools to attend workshops and seminars at the University of Minnesota addressing minority health.  Another education focus will be with the Minnesota’s Future Doctors program where certain underrepresented students will be selected to receive a year long training experience at the University of Minnesota, which will expose them to the health sciences.

The center will also be supporting a research project within the local community focusing on minority health and health disparities.  It is an intervention clinical trial to encourage eliminating home smoking among African-American families.

The community engagement aspect is one of the most important aspects of the grant because it connects the Medical School with the local community. The CeHDRET will combine with three community partners, North Point Health & Wellness Center, Stairstep Foundation, and Minnesota International Health Volunteers, to improve the health status its local citizens.  The long-term goal of the grant is to create an informed, empowered, and active community that collaborates with researchers and practitioners to improve the health of their population.

Both the University of Minnesota and the local community will benefit from the future work of CeHDRET. “The vision is to become a national leader in health disparities and minority health research, serving as a resource for research training, community engagement, and research,” said Jas S. Ahluwalia, M.D., M.P.H., director.

This grant was funded by the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities at the National Institutes of Health.

Dedicated to excellence, diversity and service, the University of Minnesota Medical School educates the next generation of physicians, advances patient care, and discovers breakthroughs in biomedical research that enhance health in Minnesota and beyond. Its commitment to transform medical education, Rural Physician Associate Program, and success in training Native American physicians are well-known. More than 1,500 Medical School physicians and scientists provide world-class care and carry out nearly $200 million in research, which informs the treatments and care that patients receive. For more information, go to www.med.umn.edu.

Contact:
Jen Faris, Academic Health Center 612-626-4784, faris010@umn.edu
Laura Stroup, Academic Health Center 612-624-5680, stro0481@umn.edu