Neighborhoods and Health Lab

National Institute On Minority Health And Health Disparities

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

In FY2023 we continue to move ongoing projects forward. We submitted one manuscript for publication with two additional ones nearing completion, as well as numerous additional projects moving forward. We have continued collaborating within and outside of NIMHD and are making substantive contributions to such collaborations. In FY2023 we grew our lab personnel; we are now hosting two postbaccalaureate and one postdoctoral fellows, hosted a HiSTEP summer intern, and are poised to welcome a second postdoctoral fellow, a special volunteer, and a staff scientist in the beginning of FY2024. Objective 1. Regarding Objective 1, developing and testing frameworks, methods, and measures for environmental research in health disparity communities, we continue to make progress on a number of ongoing secondary and primary data collection projects. We are nearing completion of a manuscript to introduce a publicly-available environmental dataset we developed that will be hosted on the ScHARE web platform, representing collaborations throughout NIMHD. This dataset will also form the basis of a collaboration (potential ancillary study) with the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) in which we are providing data and expertise in the use of neighborhood environment context measures to researchers using the HCHS/SOL human subjects data. This lab will also lead several projects making use of those environmental context data, including three in-progress proposals, one of which is trainee-led. Several of our other projects are also developing to result in innovative measures and methods for use in disparities research. For example, we are querying the theoretical basis of the measures used in childrens walkability research with a review (expected submission Fall 2023, led by former postdoc) and proposal of modified measures focusing more specifically on childrens behaviors and motivations, rather than using adult measures for such studies. We are using Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) medical care records to further the use of local exposure and history in the development of measures for heat-health research with several ongoing analyses. This project currently includes five manuscripts, four of which are trainee-led. Related to our primary data collection project, UrbanHEAT, we ran a small pilot sample in collaboration with Paule Joseph (NIAAA) to test our data collection method, which resulted in the need to rewrite several elements of the protocol. Our changes will ensure high quality data collection with minimal burden on participants. We expect the full study to be in the field Summer 2024. Objective 2. Related to Objective 2, mentoring to increase the diversity of the biomedical workforce, our lab continues to value the contribution of members of traditionally underrepresented communities. In FY 2023 we onboarded one postbaccalaureate and one postdoctoral fellow and hosted a Summer intern through the HiSTEP program. All three are women and two are members of minority communities. In addition, one postdoctoral fellow (female) has moved out of our lab to a new scientific position which will grow her career potential. Objective 3. Regarding Objective 3, developing strong collaborations across and beyond NIH, we continue building collaborations across NIH and the region. Our work continues to represent the fruit of collaborations across both NIMHD and NIH, and with the extramural community. Each of the manuscripts in the final stages of preparation include collaborators outside of the lab, and we continue to seek out and nurture new opportunities. Our primary collaborators include: Dr. Kosuke Tamura, NIMHD; Dr. Paula Strassle, NIMHD; Dr. David Berrigan, NCI; Dr. Kim Clevenger, USU; Dr. Craig Pollock, JHU; Dr. Varsha Vijay, SBTN; Dr. Paule Joseph, NIAAA; and Dr. Nicole Farmer, CC. We also continue to seek out opportunities to collaborate directly with local organizations in the geographic areas in which we work. Our organizational collaborators include the Baltimore Housing Authority and the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership.