# Improving Minority Health in Rheumatic Diseases

> **NIH NIH P30** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2021 · $705,060

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
We propose a Core Center for Clinical Research at the Medical University of South Carolina entitled Improving
Minority Health in Rheumatic Diseases (IMHRD, pronounced I aM HeaRD). Its mission is to advance knowledge
with respect to the clinical care and health outcomes of African Americans who have, or who are at risk of
developing, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and other debilitating rheumatic diseases, and thus
improve their health. The center builds on a solid framework of strong leadership in Rheumatology, Biostatistics,
Public Health Sciences and Health Disparities Research coupled with trust and a proven track record of
recruitment of African American patients for clinical research, particularly during the past 4 years in the context
of our NIAMS P60-supported MCRC on Rheumatic Diseases in African Americans. The new CCCR will retain
and enhance the leadership and unique resources of the MCRC, including 3 cores: Administrative, Methodologic,
and Clinical and Community Resource. We seek to impact minority health in rheumatic diseases by: a) providing
well phenotyped research samples from minority lupus and scleroderma patients to an increasing pool of
investigators at MUSC and elsewhere to define specific mechanisms of rheumatic disease pathogenesis and
progression; b) enhancing use of the electronic health record to identify and recruit minority participants in clinical
research projects; c) developing novel methodologic methods for clinical and translational studies as well as in
studies of gene x gene and gene x environment interactions; and d) strengthening community engagement to
enhance awareness of rheumatic diseases and health promotion and increase minority participation in clinical
research. Our Center will offer unique resources and methodologies to other investigators and CCCRs. Specific
aims are to: 1. Foster translational, clinical and outcomes research centered on African Americans with lupus
and scleroderma; 2. Develop novel tools for using the electronic health record (EHR) to expand enrollment and
simplify recruitment of participants in clinical research; 3. Serve as a specialized resource for providing
information and education about these disorders to African American patients and families, their healthcare
providers, the general public, investigators and other health professionals, other CCCRs and government
agencies; 4. Provide well-characterized chronologic samples and associated clinical data to help investigators
identify and understand underlying biologic reasons for differences in risk profiles; 5. Provide quantitative
guidance to the CCCR Research Community while developing novel biostatistical methods and providing
methodologic educational development of trainees and junior investigators; and 6. Provide a competitive pilot
project program with methodologic support and mentoring for recipients. Special strengths of our center include
outstanding institutional commitment, strong partnersh...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10254241
- **Project number:** 5P30AR072582-05
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** Gary S Gilkeson
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $705,060
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-25 → 2022-09-22

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10254241

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10254241, Improving Minority Health in Rheumatic Diseases (5P30AR072582-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10254241. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*