Columbia University School of Nursing Launches Center for Research on People of Color

Columbia University School of Nursing has announced the establishment of the Center for Research on People of Color (CRPC). The center aims to provide multidisciplinary resources for research and educational programming designed to address injustices in health care that disproportionately affect communities of color, according to Columbia University.

The CRPC’s goals are to promote and expand the body of scholarly research related to people of color and to provide consultation and mentoring for researchers. In addition, the CRPC’s body of research will focus on conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect minority populations, such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, maternal/child health and poor birth outcomes, LGBTQ health, and genomics of health and disease.

“For too long, people of color have not been sufficiently represented in health research, which has perpetuated injustice across the field and broader society,” said Jacquelyn Y. Taylor, PhD, founding director of the center in a prepared statement. “The CRPC seeks to promote health equity and justice through high-quality studies, mentorship for early career researchers, and learning opportunities open to all.”

The CRPC aims to support pilot investigators in conducting research and generating preliminary findings, and it will provide resources for research projects involving people of color, including project databases, access to biological samples located in the CRPC, data management consultation, and support for junior investigators on career development in health equity research.

With the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the CRPC will examine the interaction between the biological sciences and diverse social factors that contribute to health disparities, such as how COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting the nation’s most vulnerable populations.

“We are excited to launch this important interdisciplinary work and look forward to seeing the CRPC grow and thrive in the years to come” said Lorraine Frazier, PhD, dean of Columbia University School of Nursing and senior vice president, Columbia University Irving Medical Center in a prepared statement. “Under Dr. Taylor’s leadership, the center will be a focal point for important research and for supporting investigators in areas that have not been fully addressed before.”

REFERENCE

Columbia University School of Nursing Launches Center for Research on People of Color (CRPC). Columbia School of Nursing. https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/news/columbia-university-school-nursing-launches-center-research-people-color-crpc. Published October 15, 2020. Accessed October 20, 2020.