# FIU Center for Reducing Health Disparities in Substance Abuse & HIV in South Florida

> **NIH NIH U54** · FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $656,827

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT for FIU’s Center for Reducing Health Disparities in Substance Abuse & HIV in
South Florida (5U54MD012393-05): Substance use and HIV/AIDS disease are complex disorders that affect
the health of disadvantaged racial/ethnic minority groups, largely due to significant health disparities. To make
significant progress in identifying the underlying causes of these diseases, and improve their identification,
prevention, and treatment, requires the work of a transdisciplinary team of researchers united by a common
mission, supported by a connected infrastructure, and working in a geographical location ideally suited for the
study of the targeted diseases and disparities. The Research Center in Minority Institutions (RCMI) at Miami-
Dade’s Florida International University (FIU) will focus on developing and sustaining a national clinical and
behavioral research program addressing health inequities and disparities associated with substance use
problems and HIV for underrepresented minorities. Miami-Dade has a high prevalence of substance use
problems and one of the highest HIV incidences in the country, with underrepresented minorities at substantially
elevated risk for substance use problems and HIV infection—significant health disparities that our RCMI intends
to combat. FIU is a minority serving institution (MSI), and in Fall 2016 had nearly 50,000 students (79% from
underrepresented minorities). FIU ranks first nationally in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees to
Hispanics, and second in degrees to all minorities. The FIU-RCMI health disparity research agenda aligns closely
with the FIU Beyond Possible 2020 Strategic Plan, which includes an emphasis on expansion, student success,
and community engagement in health research and education. Research on health disparities, and on substance
use problems and HIV, are now central emphases for FIU. In 2016, health inequities and disparities was one of
only four academic areas to receive the designation of FIU Emerging Preeminent Program, indicating the
university’s current commitment to cluster hiring and infrastructure support for health disparities research. The
FIU-RCMI will include five cores—Administrative, Research Infrastructure, Investigator Development,
Community Engagement, and Recruitment—each designed to advance and support the FIU-RCMI’s mission,
goals, and aims. Outcomes we anticipate from FIU-RCMI-related health disparities capacity expansion, training
and mentorship, and research activities include: substantially increased publications citing NIH support;
substantially increased proposal submissions to NIH and other granting organizations; substantially increased
grants on health disparities awarded to a greater number of investigators, particularly those from
underrepresented minority groups; substantially increased professional development activities; substantially
increased national prominence in health disparities research; and, in the longer term, substantially decrea...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10479568
- **Project number:** 3U54MD012393-05S2
- **Recipient organization:** FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** ERIC F WAGNER
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $656,827
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-09-20 → 2022-09-19

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10479568

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10479568, FIU Center for Reducing Health Disparities in Substance Abuse & HIV in South Florida (3U54MD012393-05S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10479568. Licensed CC0.

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