# Improving Minority Health in Rheumatic Disease (IMHeaRD)

> **NIH NIH P30** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2022 · $750,918

## Abstract

Project Summary - Overall
We wish to renew our Core Center for Clinical Research at the Medical University of South Carolina entitled
Improving Minority Health in Rheumatic Diseases (IMHeaRD or IMHRD, pronounced I aM HeaRD). Its mission
is to advance knowledge in clinical care and health outcomes of minority patients who have, or who are at risk
of developing, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and other debilitating rheumatic diseases. 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 Black patients for clinical
research, particularly during the past four years, building on the success of our NIAMS P60 MCRC on Rheumatic
Diseases in African Americans. IMHeaRD will retain and enhance the leadership and unique resources, including
three 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 (EHR) to identify and recruit minority participants in clinical research projects; c) developing novel
methods for clinical and translational studies and 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
methods to other investigators and CCCRs. Specific aims are to: 1. Foster translational, clinical and outcomes
research centered on Black patients with lupus and scleroderma; 2. Develop novel tools for using the 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 Black 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. Deliver quantitative
guidance to the CCCR Research Community while developing novel biostatistical methods and providing
methodologic educational development of trainees and junior investigators ; and 6. Offer a robust pilot project
program with methodologic support and mentoring for recipients. Special strengths of our center include
outstanding institutional commitment, strong partnership with MUSC’s CTSA, a singular culture of trust with the
community, and robust collaboration with the Lupus F...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10488451
- **Project number:** 2P30AR072582-06
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES C OATES
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $750,918
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2017-09-25 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10488451

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10488451, Improving Minority Health in Rheumatic Disease (IMHeaRD) (2P30AR072582-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10488451. Licensed CC0.

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