NIH program targets chronic disease prevention, health disparities

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities today launched a research program to develop, implement and disseminate community-based interventions to combat chronic diseases in minority and underserved populations. The two Transdisciplinary Collaborative Centers include researchers, clinicians, health care systems, public health agencies and other community organizations that will develop and disseminate health interventions that can be implemented in real-world settings, such as clinics, churches and community centers. “Multilevel interventions that take into account complex interactions between individuals and their environments can better address determinants of health and enhance chronic disease prevention and health promotion for local communities,” said NIMHD Director Eliseo Pérez-Stable, M.D. “Studies in these centers will add to our knowledge of what works in health disparities populations, thus advancing knowledge towards our nation’s health.”