William G. Coleman Award

National Institute On Minority Health And Health Disparities

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

In response to the announcement of the FY23 application period, we received 13 applications; 2 of these were ineligible. After review by the Coleman award application review committee, 5 research projects, from 5 investigators were selected for FY23 funding. A description of the recipients and their research projects follows. These projects demonstrate the NIMHD DIR's ability to leverage existing NIH investments in ongoing cohort studies, as well as NIMHD-DIR generated data sources. Kaitlyn Lawrence, PhD, Staff Scientist, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Project Title: Extreme Heat Events and Epigenetic Age Acceleration: Evaluating sociodemographic Inequities in a U.S.-based Cohort of Women. Extreme heat events (defined as temperatures exceeding normal for a given region and season) have increased over the past few decades and pose a significant threat to human health and life. These events disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority groups as well as people from low socioeconomic status, leading to disparities in heat-related morbidity and mortality. Research suggests that epigenetic processes may play a role in the link between extreme heat events and adverse health outcomes. Despite the promise of epigenetic clocks in identification of subgroups at risk for early mortality and disease, no studies have examined epigenetic aging related to extreme heat exposures. To address this research gap, Dr. Lawrences study will: 1) Characterize the relationship between extreme heat events and epigenetic aging and 2) Evaluate the presence of sociodemographic disparities in this relationship. Dr. Lawrence and research team will use data from the NIEHS Sister Study, a diverse US-based prospective cohort of women designed to identify environmental risk factors for breast cancer and other diseases. Results from this study will provide insight into epigenetic-based changes associated with extreme heat exposure and will aid in the early identification of subgroups at high risk of adverse health outcomes from extreme heat exposures. Rupsha Singh, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Project Title: Structural Inequities in Access to Sleep-Related Healthcare and Mitigation Strategies to Reduce the Impact of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination on Sleep Health Disparities Poor sleep is associated with adverse cardiometabolic and neurocognitive health outcomes and mortality. Previous research shows that women from racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by poor sleep health and may have maladaptive coping strategies and limited access to sleep health care due to structural racism and discrimination. To address these gaps, Dr. Singhs study will highlight the availability of sleep medicine specialists in FQHCs and identify coping strategies that may mitigate the impact of racial discrimination on sleep among women from racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States. Dr. Singh and research team will use a sequential mixed methods design (i.e., quantitative NIEHS Sister Study cohort data on discrimination, coping, and sleep measures and qualitative data from focus groups). The research team will also compare the availability of sleep medicine specialists in FQHCs (using data from OCHIN) with non-FQHCs. This study will provide valuable information on intervention targets to promote sleep health among groups experiencing sleep health disparities. Paula Strassle, PhD, MSPH, Staff Scientists, Cody Ramin, PhD, ScM, Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institute on Minority Health, and Health Disparities. Project Title: Identifying Barriers that Drive Health Disparities in Adherence to Preventive Services Recommendations. Preventive services (such as cancer screenings and vaccinations) are important for reducing health disparities in chronic and infectious diseases. However, between 30% to 50% of U.S. adults do not receive recommended preventive services. Racial and ethnic disparities in the receipt of preventive services have been observed among Asian, Black/African American, and Hispanic/Latino adults, but less is known about adherence to preventive services among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern communities in the United States. Dr. Strassle's study will assess current preventive services utilization across racial and ethnic groups, describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted utilization, and estimate the role of individual and structural barriers in preventive services disparities through a nationally representative survey of American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino (English- and Spanish-speaking), Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern and North African, and White adults. This survey will be the most comprehensive assessment of preventive services utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic among a diverse sample of adults living in the United States (including being one of the first surveys to include Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern adults). Jennifer Woo, PhD, MPH, Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Project title: Early Life Neighborhood Deprivation and Life Course Socioeconomic Trajectory and Breast Cancer Disparities in The Sister Study Cohort. Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers among women in the United States, and it is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Black and White women, affecting approximately 13% of women during their lifetime. However, Black women and women of low socioeconomic position are disproportionately more likely than White women and women of higher socioeconomic position to be diagnosed with breast cancer before 40 years of age. While there is evidence that neighborhood deprivation and socioeconomic position in adulthood is associated with breast cancer risk, the role of early life neighborhood deprivation and socioeconomic position in breast cancer etiology is unclear. Early life also represents a potentially sensitive period for later breast cancer risk due to puberty-related breast tissue development and physical and socioeconomic exposures and stressors. Dr. Woos study will assess the extent to which early life and life course neighborhood deprivation and socioeconomic position explain observed racial and ethnic disparities in breast cancer risk using data from the NIEHS Sister Study. Charlita Worthy, MD, MPH, Clinical Fellow, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases. Project title: African Immigrant Women May Have Higher Psychosocial Stress, Higher Allostatic Load, And Worse Cardiometabolic Health Than African American Women African immigrant women living in the United States experience health challenges related to stress from underemployment, racism, and coping with new cultural realities, among others. Although the African-born Black population is a fast-growing immigrant population in the United States, data on the health status and psychosocial issues of African immigrant women are scant. To address these gaps, Dr. Worthys study will compare psychosocial stressors (perceived stress and everyday discrimination), allostatic load score, and cardiometabolic health (body mass index, blood pressure, glucose tolerance, and cardiovascular risk) among 30 age-matched African immigrant women and 30 African American women. Data on sleep quality, diet, health behaviors, and socioeconomic status will be examined as potential mitigators of stress and discrimination.