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Training in health disparity research for a diverse neuroscience workforce
Investigator (PI): Milligan, Carol; Bertoni, Alain Gerald
Performing Organization (PO): (Current): Wake Forest University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy / (336) 716-4368
Supporting Agency (SA): National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Initial Year: 2014
Final Year: 2019
Record Source/Award ID: RePorter/R25NS089458
Funding: 2014 Award Amount: $194,314
2015 Award Amount: $255,249
2016 Award Amount: $257,409
2017 Award Amount: $255,249
2018 Award Amount: $254,965
Award Type: Grant
Abstract: There are numerous reports that have identified disparities in presentation for care, severity, and disability for stroke, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease. Nonetheless, the neurology discipline appears to lag behind other clinical specialties in terms of analyzing the causes and delivery of interventions and treatments across socioeconomic and ethnic groups that result in apparent poor outcomes in disadvantaged populations. In 2010, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) convened an external panel to review and provide recommendations to NINDS with respect to the priority, administration, and oversight of health disparities research conducted by NINDS. Among the results of the review was the conclusion that there is no specific mechanism for training future health disparity researchers. There are several epidemiology programs throughout the country that focus on neuroepidemiology training, but essentially all programs require trainees to have advanced degrees, most often MDs. The goal of this program is to recruit undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds into a master's program in Neuroscience Clinical and Population Studies of Health Disparities at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. There are four unique resources at Wake Forest University that make it an ideal institution for the proposed program: 1) the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity (MACHE), 2) experience through an established Master of Science in Clinical and Population Translational Sciences, 3) an established neuroscience graduate program, and 4) the Division of Public Health Sciences. Recruitment of students and collaboration with regional undergraduate institutions, including historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), will be important for attaining our goal. The idea is to interest students in a career choice and to develop a love of neuroscience and understanding of neurological disorders so that a proportion of these MS students will move onto PhD programs. The product of this program will be a solid foundation in neuroscience, epidemiology, and biostatistics training and hands-on, practical research projects.
MeSH Terms:
  • Alzheimer Disease /therapy
  • Education, Graduate
  • Epilepsy /therapy
  • Health Equity
  • Health Services Research /*methods
  • * Healthcare Disparities
  • Humans
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (U.S.)
  • Neurosciences /*education
  • /methods
  • Parkinson Disease /therapy
  • Public Health
  • Schools, Medical
  • Stroke /therapy
  • Translational Medical Research /education
  • /methods
  • United States
  • Universities
Keywords:
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Parkinson disease
  • career choice
  • collaborations
  • disadvantaged population
  • epidemiology
  • epilepsy
  • ethnic group
  • health disparity
  • historically black colleges and universities
  • master of science
  • medical specialties
  • nervous system disorder
  • neuroepidemiology
  • neurology
  • neurosciences
  • stroke
  • student recruitment
  • students
  • training
  • undergraduate student
  • universities
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Zip Code: 27157
UI: 20184282
Project Status: Completed