Dr. Ayodeji Iyanda, an Assistant Professor of Geography at Prairie View A&M University, has received a grant of nearly $1.5 million. The Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided the grant. It aims to tackle structural racism and improve health equity in vulnerable communities.
The grant supports research on the impact of social determinants of health data on public health data systems. The goal is to address health disparities more effectively. The project involves co-principal investigators from various universities and organizations.
The grant also supports historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions, particularly in the five Gulf states: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. This is part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s commitment to health equity and systemic racism.
Dr. Iyanda’s work at Prairie View A&M University, along with the co-principal investigators, will use the grant to achieve its goals. The grant will fund research and strategies to address health disparities in at-risk communities.