CTSI Co-Director receives $4.5M NIMHD award to prevent cardiometabolic disease in minority communities

To address inequities that accelerate the development and progression of cardiometabolic disease and disproportionately affect low-income and minority groups, Dr. Arleen Brown, co-director of the CTSI, has received an NIMHD award to lead a UCLA and UC Irvine center which will function across Los Angeles County and Orange County to help eliminate disparities for commonly co-occurring risk factors and complications of the diseases to affected populations and prioritize equitable prevention and care. 

The center, named UCLA-UCI Center for Eliminating Cardiometabolic Disparities in Multi-Ethnic Populations, or UC END-DISPARITIES, will focus on at-risk and vulnerable Latino, Black, Asian, Pacific Islander, and American Indian communities, which have some of the highest rates of cardiometabolic risk factors and premature cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the nation.  

UC END-DISPARITIES will develop equitable community-partnered research approaches that include targeted research projects, pilot and community awards, and training programs for new investigators. Center projects will focus on prevention and care for hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.

Brown is also co-leader for CTSI's Community Engagement and Research Program and professor of medicine in the division of general internal medicine and health services research at UCLA. Co-leaders for UC END-DISPARITIES include Dr. Keith Norris, senior associate director for equity, diversity and inclusion at CTSI, and Dr. Bernadette Boden-Albala at UC Irvine.

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