Exploratory and Comprehensive Centers of Excellence
Program Description
Mandated by the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-525), the NIMHD Centers of Excellence Program creates centers within colleges and universities to address health disparities through research, research training and education, and community engagement. These centers typically become local hubs for health disparities research, addressing the biological, environmental, behavioral, and social factors that contribute to health disparities.
Goals
- Centralize minority health and health disparities research within an institution or group of institutions into a single research enterprise
- Establish effective partnerships between organizations and communities to conduct original and innovative research to improve minority health and eliminate health disparities
- Strengthen existing training activities that prepare researchers from populations experiencing health disparities to conduct minority health and health disparities research
- Enhance community engagement and outreach efforts at participating institutions
Additional Information
NIMHD Centers of Excellence aim to reduce health disparities in several priority diseases and conditions. These include but are not limited to cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, infant mortality, mental health, and obesity. The program also supports research on lung and liver diseases, psoriasis, scleroderma, kidney injury, and other conditions that disproportionately affect populations experiencing health disparities. Translational research is strongly encouraged as well.
Page updated Jan. 12, 2024
