News Releases - 2017

Here you will find press releases, media advisories, and media notes produced by NIMHD, as well as NIH. These offer a glance into the research, medical advances, and activities that define NIMHD.

NIMHD names Anna María Nápoles, PhD, MPH Scientific Director

November 6, 2017 - The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), announced the appointment of Dr. Anna María Nápoles, Ph.D., M.P.H., as scientific director of its Division of Intramural Research (DIR), making her the first Latina named to the position at the National Institute of Health. Dr. Nápoles joins NIMHD from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) where she served as a professor and behavioral epidemiologist in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine since 2001. She has been at the forefront of developing methods for community-engaged, translational research to improve the health of populations experiencing health disparities that build community capacity to deliver culturally suitable, evidence-based behavioral interventions.

NIH establishes new research in social epigenomics to address health disparities

October 31, 2017 - The National Institutes of Health will award 10 grants to support social epigenomics research in health disparities. This investigator-initiated research is being funded as part of the Social Epigenomics Research Focused on Minority Health and Health Disparities research program, which seeks to support research to better understand the drivers of health disparities. The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), part of the National Institutes of Health, will commit $26.2 million over five years, subject to available funds, for nine awards. An additional award under this initiative will be funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) – also part of NIH.

NIH to fund seven Research Centers in Minority Institutions

October 5, 2017 - The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), part of the National Institutes of Health, will fund seven new awards to support the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Specialized Centers program.

NIH to fund Centers of Excellence on Minority Health and Health Disparities

October 5, 2017 - Twelve specialized research centers designed to conduct multidisciplinary research, research training, and community engagement activities focused on improving minority health and reducing health disparities will launch.

NIH accelerates the use of genomics in clinical care

August 8, 2017 - The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is awarding $18.9 million towards research that aims to accelerate the use of genome sequencing in clinical care. The new awards will generate innovative approaches and best practices to ensure that the effectiveness of genomic medicine can be applied to all individuals and groups, including diverse and underserved populations, and in healthcare settings that extend beyond academic medical centers.

NIMHD announces recipients for the inaugural William G. Coleman Jr., Ph.D., Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Innovation Award

August 1, 2017 - Three postdoctoral fellows within the NIH Intramural Research Program have been selected to receive the first William G. Coleman Jr., Ph.D., Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Innovation Award. This competitive award seeks to support innovative research ideas and concepts - proposing potential for high impact in areas of minority health and health disparities research.