The National Institutes of Health has awarded $75 million to Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science and three other historically black institutions to establish a medical research consortium to combat health disparities in minority and underserved populations.

The award by the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), part of NIH, will support clinical and translational research focusing on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, HIV/AIDS and other conditions.

“We are going to create a clinical and translational research center by building partnerships among institutions and communities,” said Dr. Eric G. Bing, Charles Drew University’s Endowed Professor of Global Health & HIV, who will direct the NIH grant-funded program: Accelerating Excellence in Translational Science (AXIS).

“Our goal is to develop innovative solutions that transform the health of underserved communities,” he added.

Under the terms of the award, Charles Drew University in Los Angeles, Meharry Medical College in Nashville and Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta will each receive about $4 million a year for up to five years. Xavier University in Louisiana will receive $2 million a year for five years to establish a cancer research center.

Charles Drew, Meharry and Morehouse will each be funded through Research Centers in Minority Institutions, an NCRR program designed to enhance research capacity and infrastructure in minority institutions.

“The three inaugural RCTR institutions already have an exemplary record of transforming basic research into positive outcomes at the doctor’s office and in the community,” said Dr. Barbara Alving, director of NCRR. “The increased efficiency and partnerships that come out of the RCTR program will accelerate this progress to improve the health of minority communities.”

Xavier University, which suffered heavy damage as a result of Hurricane Katrina in2005, will be added to the pool of RCMI institutions with funds from the fourth award.

RCMI Awardees:

Charles Drew University
$20.9 million
Accelerating Excellence in Translational Science
Principal Investigator: Keith C. Norris, M.D.

Meharry Medical College
$21.4 million
Meharry Clinical and Translational Research Center
Principal Investigators: Ayman Al-Hendy, M.D., Ph.D. and James E.K. Hildreth, M.D., Ph.D.

Morehouse School of Medicine
$22.2 million
RCMI Infrastructure for Clinical and Translational Research
Principal Investigator: Eve J. Higginbotham, M.D.

Xavier University of Louisiana
$10.1 million
Xavier’s RCMI Cancer Research Program
Principal Investigator: Gene D’Amour, Ph.D.Contact:

Source: John L. Mitchell

Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science