Federal collaboration on health Disparities research: A transdisciplinary, approach to health disparities research translation and dissemination

Improvements in health have occurred over the past several decades, however many disease and mortally gaps still exist by race, ethnicity, gender, age, geography, and for persons with disabilities. For example, heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease still disproportionately affect many of these sub populations. The ability to maintain optimal Health is intertwined with other factors such as housing, income, education, environment, and other related determinants. In 2006, federal departments representing different disciplines and perspectives including education, environment, health, housing, justice, and veterans affairs began working together to develop, promote, translate, and disseminate transdisciplinary research needed to address these determinants. This presentation will describe strategic efforts to encourage federal departments to collaborate on research, programs, policies, and practices needed to accelerate the elimination of long-standing disparities in health and health care. Presenters will review challenges to health disparities elimination in the United States, describe rationale for creating the Federal Collaboration on Health Disparities Research (FCHDR), steps to engaging federal departments in this transdisciplinary approach, outline FCHDR's guiding principles and vision, and articulate FCHDRS early accomplishments, challenges, and future plans.