Recent Funding for the new Endowment for Professorship in Indian American Health & Health Disparities
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We were honored to host Mr. Vashisht and his family to honor him for his generous donation to the HSC
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UNTHSC proudly hosted a reception to honor Mr. Vashisht for his gift to establish The Vashisht Professorship in Indian American Health and Health Disparities Professorship. President Dr. Michael Williams, Provost Dr. Charles Taylor, Regent A.K. Mago and Senator Beverly Powell spoke at the ceremony prior to the reception.
The Naresh Vashisht Professorship in Indian American Health and Health Disparities is the first of its kind professorship focusing on the Asian Indian Americans. Indian American population has been growing at a rapid pace and Indian Americans are becoming a significant minority population in the US. Many chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are increasing in the Indian American population, however there is very limited data on its incidence and prevalence in this population.
These data findings are important for guiding targeted interventions. The proposed Endowed Professorship in Indian American Health and Health Disparities will study the incidence, causes, prevalence and treatment for chronic diseases that occur disproportionately in the Indian Americans.
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The Summer Research Internship Program (SRIP) Research Appreciation Day was held on July 18, 2019 at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) in Fort Worth, Texas.
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Thomas Yorio, PhD, FARVO- Provost Emeritus and Professor Pharmacology & Neuroscience Department & North Texas Eye Research Institute:: Amanda L. Roberts, MA- Doctor of Philosophy Candidate at North Texas Eye Research Institute
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Sponsored by the UNTHSC Center for Diversity and International Programs (CDIP), the SRIP Research Appreciation Day provided undergraduate students opportunities to strengthen their scientific communication skills. Student researchers advanced their career paths in biomedical/behavior sciences and health professions, by presenting their summer research project as well as developing their laboratory skills, techniques, and enhanced their confidence.
As a result, they are now equipped with the knowledge to pursue a graduate or health professional degree. Dr. Harlan P. Jones, Director of the CDIP and Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics at UNTHSC, led the summer interns of SRIP to enhance their academic and career development while preparing to be successful in the biomedical workforce.
The conference featured the national and international renowned eye research scientist
Dr. Thomas Yorio
as the 2019 Keynote Speaker. Dr. Yorio is a Provost Emeritus and Professor of
UNTHSC Pharmacology and Neuroscience Department
, and the
North Texas Eye Research Institute
. Dr Yorio is the co-founder of UNTHSC
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
, the Editor-and-Chief of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IVOS) journal, and has made numerous contributions to vision research throughout his 42-years as an eye scientist at UNTHSC. He continues to enhance the diversity of biomedical sciences by creating diversity in the biomedical workforce.
Special thank you for the grant support from the SMART, DURA, MARC, HBCU, and Texas Conference of Health Disparities awards from the following:
National Institute of Health National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NIH-NHLBI)
National Institute of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH-NIDA)
National Institute of Health National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH-NIGMS)
Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program (DOD-PCRP)
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIH-NIMHD)
Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program
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Another successful Texas Conference on Health Disparities was held in June
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During the two day conference, ten
nationally renowned speakers spoke to our students, faculty, and community members about Social Epigenomics & Health Disparities; Evidence based approaches that identify mechanisms by which social experiences at various stages in life, both positive and negative, affect gene function and thereby influence health in racial/ethnic minority and health disparity populations.
Teams of community leaders and faculty held twelve round tables to invite participants to discuss and highlight evidence-based clinical, community and policy approaches to improving maternal and child health across the United States.
We would like to thank all of those who attended the 14th Annual Texas Conference on Health Disparities along with all of the staff who helped make it a huge success.
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Congratulations to Dr. Nicole Phillips for her award for funding from
NIMHD
for an administrative supplement focusing on Alzheimer's. The research project focuses on Mexican Americans: Mitochondrial Underpinnings of Sex- and Ethnicity-based risk for Alzheimer’s Disease.
Comorbidity of type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is more prevalent in Mexican Americans, who have earlier onset of dementia compared to non-Hispanic whites. Mitochondrial dysfunction associate with both disorders has been shown to be affected differently by sex. This project investigates genetic-based indices of mitochondrial function peripheral blood in order to (1) identify novel sources of genetic risk for comorbidity in Mexican Americans, and (2) evaluate the use of these combined markers as a tool for identifying risk for comorbidity specifically in Mexican American women.
We look forward to supporting her in her efforts.
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Dr. Alka Kanaya, M.D.
Professor, School of Medicine University of California, San Francisco, presented a seminar to the UNTHSC faculty & staff on her work in the MASALA Study
“Cardiometabolic risk in South Asians: Findings from the MASALA Study”
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South Asians comprise almost one-quarter of the world’s population and are the second fastest growing ethnic group in the United States. We have created a prospective cohort of South Asians called the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study, which is closely tied to the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) for valid cross-ethnic comparisons. Most of what we know about prevention and treatment is based on populations of European ancestry and the South Asian phenotype appears to be distinct. There is a need for data on South Asians to develop tailored prevention and treatment strategies for South Asians. In this presentation, Dr. Kanaya will review the key findings from the MASALA study and highlight the health policy impact of the study.
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The National Research Mentoring Network
is committed to diversity. We have already and will continue to engage diverse stakeholders from our vast NRMN network in the ongoing development, refinement, and pilot testing of our NRMN-RC initiatives.
Building on the foundation of trust, inclusion, and collaboration, we will welcome partners from across the nation with diverse perspectives to join our NRMN-RC team to establish new and improved national networking initiatives and create the capacity necessary to support diverse mentees across the nation. Ultimately, NRMNet will be a sustainable network of mentors and mentees widely distributed across disciplines, geography, institutions, and cultural, racial, ethnic groups, and sexual orientation, yet tightly-knit and unified in mission and principles.
We invite you to collaborate with us by contributing an article, content to our website, facilitate a webinar, host a Twitter Chat, or share your ideas for collaboration. We would be thrilled to feature your content! Check out our
Partner
page or fill out a
form
to request to collaborate.
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VOLUNTEER FOR AISD Coaching Up Program
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UNT Health and Science Center has partnered with the Arlington Independent School District to increase diversity in STEM higher education.
Each Fall and Spring UNTHSC hosts events for Arlington ISD high school students to learn more about pursuing a degree in the biomedical, behavioral, medical and health, and allied health professions.
Click the link below to find out more information on this program.
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CENTER FOR DIVERSITY & INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
TEXAS CENTER FOR HEALTH DISPARITIES
|UNTHSC.EDU/CDIP UNTHSC.EDU/TCHD
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