Jackson State to Invest $14.5 Million in Heart Disease Research Focused on Black Mississippians
Jackson State University will use $14.5 million in funding to study cardiovascular disease and related health risks in Black Mississippians. The funds come from a 10-year contract with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
The contract extends the university’s Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center. The Jackson Heart Study is the largest investigation of cardiovascular disease in African Americans. It has involved more than 5,300 participants aged 34 to 85, producing decades of data and biological samples used to improve prevention and treatment.
The program marked its 25th anniversary last year, with its first participant exam conducted on Sept. 26, 2000. The center, established at Jackson State in 2013, aims to strengthen graduate students’ ability to advance disease prevention, prolong life, and promote health. It provides specialized training to prepare students for careers in biomedical and public health sciences.
Interim Jackson State President Dr. Denise Jones Gregory said the investment highlights the university’s leadership and its capacity to secure major federal partnerships. She added that the funding supports the university’s responsibility to develop talent and enhance research that helps families live longer, healthier lives.
Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in Mississippi, with Black residents experiencing higher mortality rates than other groups. Conditions such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes also disproportionately affect the Black community and contribute to cardiovascular issues.
Dr. Marinelle Payton, principal investigator of the Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center, noted that the study’s community-based approach has saved lives and improved understanding of heart disease risk among African Americans. She said the renewed funding will help train the next generation of public health leaders to translate data into effective prevention strategies and healthier futures.
The study involves collaborations with the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Tougaloo College, the University of Southern Mississippi, Wake Forest University, and the G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center.
Source: Original Article
