NINR 2009: Update on health disparities research

The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) has a history of supporting investigations concerning health disparities. Health disparities may be defined as those differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist between specific population groups in the United States. NINR relied on the National Institute of Medicine reports in developing its infrastructure and outreach work related to health disparities. Thus, NINR's Infrastructure Goals are to: 1) increase the emphasis on health disparities; and 2) enhance mentorship, training and research opportunities for minority students, and researchers. The NINR's Outreach Goals are to: 1) maintain involvement with professional minority nursing organizations; and 2) enhance communication and dissemination activities between minority investigators. There are targeted initiatives which were developed from the Health Disparities Strategic Plan including funding opportunity announcements (FOA) that are designed to help increase the number of well qualified researchers of minority backgrounds. This presentation reviews several of NINR's funded health disparities research projects. The results of these projects are described within the broader context of health disparities research. The NINR infrastructure as well as opportunities for mentorship, training and research funding opportunities in the area of health disparities will be presented. NINR Partnership Centers (P20) will be listed and shared. NINR Centers of Excellent (P30) which focus on health disparities research will also be presented. Specific areas of emphasis of health disparities research will be included throughout the presentation.