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[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Health disparities research tops NIH agenda

Nov. 11, 2005

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By David Hefner*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Health disparities research is at the top of
the agenda for the National Institutes of Health, along with creating
consistent "streams of funding," according to a top official of the
agency.

"There are amazing differences in life expectancy and death in this
country," said Raynard Kington, deputy director of the National
Institutes of Health. African Americans are at the bottom of "almost
every measure in health status and well-being."

 "Absolutely," he concluded, "health disparities research is at the top
of our agenda."

Kington's remarks kicked off an Oct. 30-Nov. 2 summit examining the
unequal burden of illness and disease borne by Nashville residents who
are racial or ethnic minorities. United Methodist-related Meharry
Medical College sponsored the second annual event, called Nashville
Community Health Disparities Summit2.

Summit2, supported by an NIH grant from the National Center for Minority
Health and Health Disparities, brought together researchers, health care
providers and laypeople to address local health disparities. In
sponsoring the event, the Meharry EXPORT Center for Health Disparities
partnered with Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and the
Metropolitan Nashville Public Health Department.

"We can sum up the problem in a single sentence," said Meharry President
John E. Maupin Jr. at the summit's opening. "The health of too many
people is at risk because of their racial or ethnic background. However,
while the problem can be easily summarized, we know the solutions are
far from simple. A collective response that involves sharing information
and enhancing collaboration is the only way we can reduce the health
disparities that exist for people of color."

In 2004, Tennessee ranked as the 48th lowest state out of 50 in
"America's Health: State Health Rankings," a report compiled by the
United Health Foundation. The state ranked in the bottom 10 states on
other individual measures, including a high prevalence of smoking,
obesity, violent crime, deaths from cardiovascular disease, cancer
deaths and premature deaths.

A stark indication of ethnic-based health disparities in the state is
summed up in the premature death rate: blacks experience 14,538 years of
potential life lost before age 75 per 100,000, while whites experience
8,395 years of potential life lost before age 75 per 100,000.

Health disparities in Nashville, Tennessee's capital city, mimic those
across the state.

"He who has a why to live, can bear any how," said Stephanie Bailey,
director of the Metro Public Health Department.  "Our how is
partnering."

>From discussions of cultural competency to metabolic syndrome to HIV to
drug abuse, the four-day summit covered a spectrum of topics involving
basic science and clinical and behavioral research areas. The daylong
events were held on alternate days on the campuses of Meharry and
Vanderbilt.

"This summit brought together different facets of the community that
don't always collaborate to discuss the causes of health disparities in
Nashville and to collectively develop strategies for addressing them,"
said Paul D. Juarez, program director of the Meharry EXPORT Center for
Health Disparities.

The Oct. 31 discussion focused on diabetes, cardiovascular disease and
stroke, beginning with the epidemiology and treatment of the illnesses
and ending with prevention and implementation of proven medications.
Exercise and a healthy diet were themes consistently touted as
empowering solutions for both prevention and intervention of metabolic
syndrome.

The next day's discussion moved to HIV, led by James Hildreth, director
of the Center for Health Disparities Research in HIV at Meharry. In
Nashville, African Americans make up 51 percent of cumulative HIV/AIDS
cases yet represent only 25 percent of the population.

"This problem is not going to be solved without the help of the black
church," Hildreth said. His center is approaching HIV research in three
ways: biology, behavior and community outreach. "It's very important
that we have close interaction both at Meharry and Vanderbilt."

In 2003, the Vanderbilt-Meharry Center for AIDS Research became one of
20 such centers established worldwide to address the global AIDS
pandemic. Among the center's goals are community outreach and faculty
recruitment.

"The number of HIV/AIDS cases in Nashville is not going down," said
Richard D'Aquila, the Addison B. Scoville Jr. Professor of Infectious
Diseases at Vanderbilt University.

Discussions about HIV/AIDS addressed such topics as genetics and
intervention, and the development of microbicides to prevent HIV
transmission. The summit also heard from a panel of community HIV
advocates.

"We want to improve outcomes by knowing patients' genetics," said David
W. Haas, director of the AIDS Clinical Trial Center at Vanderbilt.

Hildreth discussed his research involving the sugar betacyclodextrin,
which is used to bind cholesterol, a necessary component of HIV
transmission. In 2001, Hildreth and his team of researchers discovered
that betacyclodextrin can be used to extract cholesterol from HIV,
blocking transmission of the disease. The Meharry scientist is working
to develop a vaginal cream using betacyclodextrin.

"The impact of this vaginal cream could potentially be quite
considerable," he said. "It could literally slow down, if not stop, the
progression of AIDS. One of the exciting things about the technology
that we're exploring is that a vaginal cream based on a natural product
will be fairly inexpensive, within the reach of many people in the
world, especially in developing countries."

Concluding with a focus on behavioral research, summit participants
discussed the nature of drug addiction, particularly alcoholism.
Researchers have long drawn the correlation between addiction and
high-risk behaviors that lead to illness and disease.

Meharry also offered free child passenger safety seat tips to the
community and gave away about 75 car seats. That outreach was sponsored
by the Meharry-State Farm Alliance with the Vanderbilt Children's
Hospital, the Tennessee Health Department and the Tennessee Governor's
Highway Safety Office.

"We all have a stake in this," said Nathan Stinson Jr., director of
Meharry's Center for Optimal Health.

"The elimination of health disparities is our collective responsibility.
We mustn't miss our opportunity. Not on our watch."

*Hefner is publications manager at Meharry Medical College.

News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

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