In The News
December 2, 2021
Congratulations to Dr. JK Vishwanatha, our Executive Director for the Institute for Health Disparities, in receiving Valubility of the Year at HSC!
This is the Health Science Center’s highest honor and reserved for recognizing truly extraordinary acts of Valubility that represent us at our best.
Nov 15, 2021
HSC’s Center for Diversity and International Programs begins new era with name change that reflects growth
The HSC Center for Diversity and International Programs (CDIP) is being renamed the Institute for Health Disparities (IHD) to reflect its growing size and engagement in a wide range of programs that train and educate professionals focused on ending health disparities in the United States.
Dr. Jamboor K. Vishwanatha, Regents Professor and Director, will continue leading the efforts of the Institute for Health Disparities.
“The new Institute name acknowledges the national leadership of our programs in minority health and health disparities,” Dr. Vishwanatha said. “IHD will support health disparity research, education and community engagement, mentorship and networking, and diversity training.”
There is a need to diversify the nation’s biomedical science workforce. The Institute’s work is central to addressing this national issue.
There is an accumulation of specialized knowledge in biomedical fields – it is a workforce that is trying to find tomorrow’s health solutions amid entrenched bias that create persistent health issues among certain populations.
Because minorities are underrepresented in science, there is inadequate scientific input from divergent social or cultural perspectives. That trend is a problem that detracts from the nation’s ability to resolve health disparities.
HSC is dedicated to building healthier communities by bridging disparities. That focus is key to work underway at the Institute.
The Institute has eight main components, including the newly announced AIM-AHEAD Coordinating Center. The Center is the central hub of the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Research Diversity.
“Dr. Vishwanatha’s teams outgrew their ‘center’ as they added new programs,” said Dr. Brian A. Gladue, HSC Vice President for Research and Innovation. “The Institute for Health Disparities has far-reaching impact as it continues to grow. HSC is deeply committed to the Institute as it expands research, training and outreach. We are excited about the work they are doing in and for our communities.”
The work taking place at the Institute includes:
- Texas Center for Health Disparities, one of 12 NIMHD Specialized Centers of Excellence in Minority Health Disparities in the country.
- National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN), the national resource center for the NIH Diversity Consortium.
- AIM-AHEAD Coordinating Center, the central hub of the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Research Diversity
- Texas CEAL Consortium to help reduce the impact of COVID-19 on the most vulnerable populations and to evaluate these efforts through community-engaged research.
- Faculty Grant Writing and Professional Development
Provide research and mentoring to underrepresented graduate and health professional students, post-docs and junior faculty. - Graduate and Health Professional Student Training Programs
Support short-term and dual-degree research training for underrepresented students in health professions. - Undergraduate Summer Research Internships
Major undergraduate summer research programs at HSC are funded through numerous sources. Participants come from minority-serving institution partners across the United States. - K – 12 Outreach
Stimulate and broaden students’ awareness of biomedical and health professional career paths by exposing students to clinical and laboratory research environments at HSC.
Sep 29, 2021
HSC receives $50 million to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to rectify health disparities
Oct 4, 2021
Health disparities research: ‘The HEARD Scholarship is going to make my dreams come true’
By Gabrielle Saleh
Aug 17, 2021
HSC mentoring program receives Inspiring Programs in STEM Award
Jul 13, 2021
Closing the gap: How CDIP works to increase diversity in biomedical sciences
By Gabrielle Saleh
May 28, 2021
HSC receives $3.9 million grant to expand program that increases diversity among cancer researchers
By Alex Branch
May 19, 2021
Conference will spotlight outreach to minority communities and COVID-19’s impact on vulnerable populations
Check out the latest edition of CDIP’s Newsletter!
Latest News!
Vishwanatha receives Presidential Award for mentoring work
October 17, 2019
Regents Professor Jamboor K. Vishwanatha, PhD, is one of three educators in the state and 15 nationwide who have been named recipients of Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.
Dr. Vishwanatha, Vice President and Principal Investigator for the National Research Mentoring Network and Director of the Texas Center for Health Disparities, will receive the award in a Washington, D.C., ceremony on Thursday.
The Presidential Award is a great honor, especially to be recognized among such excellent educators and mentors, Dr. Vishwanatha said.
“I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to make a difference in the lives of many individuals,” he said. “It is gratifying to see them as successful citizens contributing to the scientific advancement in our country. The award is a recognition of the important role of mentoring in developing and diversifying our national science workforce.”
White House officials said the award recognizes the critical role mentors play outside the traditional classroom setting in the academic and professional development of the future STEM workforce. Individual nominations are reviewed based on the impact, significance and quality of their mentoring activities. Colleagues, administrators and students nominate individuals and organizations for exemplary mentoring sustained over a minimum of five years.
Recipients receive a certificate signed by President Donald Trump and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.
Charles Taylor, PharmD, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, praised Dr. Vishwanatha.
“This is an outstanding accomplishment by Dr. Vishawanatha, and I’m so pleased he is being recognized at the highest level for his leadership and commitment to the development of STEM.”
Dr. Vishwanatha serves as a mentor to students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty who have trained in his laboratory. He also promotes opportunities for under-represented students and faculty through various institutional, regional and national programs. Together, these activities have resulted in mentoring of more than 3,200 students and faculty.
As a faculty member, Dr. Vishwanatha has personally trained and mentored 36 undergraduate students from the partnerships he has built with minority-serving institutions.
He has personally mentored 17 graduate students, including 10 women and six individuals from other under-represented and disadvantaged groups. Of the six, two are faculty, one is working in the biotechnology industry, one is a veterinary doctor, and two are currently in PhD programs. He has personally trained 19 postdocs, five of whom are women. Eight of the postdocs have achieved faculty positions, nine are in the biotechnology industry, and two are in non-academic positions.
He is currently the principal investigator for two short-term research-training programs, a Center for Excellence in Health Disparities program, a Department of Defense-funded prostate cancer-training program for under-represented students, and a minority-based training program.
Dr. Vishwanatha said that as a mentor he feels it is of critical importance to demonstrate a strong commitment from himself and to expect the same from those he mentors. An important focus of his mentorship is to impact self-reliance in the career development of his mentees.
Exercise Science Student Presents Study on Asthma
Beneficial Results
“It’s exciting to have a response that matched my hypothesis,” Phillips said. “These results could actually help people with asthma. That’s been the most inspiring part.”
Phillips is the first author of the abstract, meaning he conducted the majority of the research. He created a literature review of a data set from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, wrote the paper, and created a cell diagram showing where exercise can help reduce asthma in the body.
Phillips has submitted his project to the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) conference and the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS). If his project is accepted, he will have the opportunity to present it in Hawaii and Anaheim, California, respectively.
A Strong Academic Foundation
Phillips is a senior majoring in Exercise Science with a minor in Leadership. He works as a physical therapy technician at Hendrick and as a chemistry tutor on campus. Phillips is involved at HSU as the president of the Physical Therapy Club and the Student Government representative for Gamma Beta Phi honor society. He is currently applying to PT school and hopes to attend HSU’s program.
“HSU has lots of resources and opportunities,” Phillips said. “I’ve found a lot of ways to build my resume and prepare for grad school. It’s a small school, but we have lots of mentors and advisors to help you along the way.”
Phillips’ abstract is available here.
About SMART
The SMART program brings undergraduate students to the UNT Health Science Center campus to participate in a 10-week biomedical sciences project. Participants become familiar with the varied disciplines and methodology used in biomedical research.
SMART is a program for multicultural students made possible in part by the National Institutes of Health and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The NIH has designated African Americans, Native Americans, Mexican Americans, and Mainland Puerto Ricans as underrepresented populations in the sciences. However, through additional funding provided by our corporate partners, UNT Health Science Center invites applications from all interested students.
Supporting young adults with cancer
Providing better care and support to patients like Parker is the focus of a partnership between the UNT Health Science Center and the Fort Worth AYA (Adolescents and Young Adults) Oncology Coalition, a nonprofit foundation made up of healthcare providers, service organizations and more than 100 healthcare professionals, cancer survivors, caregivers and volunteers.
Paul Bowman, MD, and Riyaz Basha, PhD
UNTHSC splits $2.2 million cancer disparities grant – Fort Worth Star Telegram, Alex Branch
“This is a true partnership,” Dr. Jones said. “We have many faculty performing innovative cancer research at UNT Health Science Center, and we are excited to collaborate once again with Langston University.”- Dr. Harlan Jones, PhD, Director of the UNHSC Center for Diversity and International Programs
More Inclusive Clinical Trials, Minority Doctors Could Help Close Gap In American Health – March 2018, Stephanie Kuo, KERA News
“If we want to make use of all of the innovation, if we want to make use of all of the new advances in the medical and biomedical fields, we need to also make sure our workforce is reflective of our population.”- Dr. Vishwanatha
New Study Highlights Bone-Targeted Nanoparticle Treatment for Prostate Cancer – November 2017
“Jamboor K Vishwanatha, Ph.D. and his group from University of North Texas Health Science Center designed the NP formulation to bind to the bone’s chemical structure and were effective at maintaining bone structure, reducing tumor size and decreasing pain.” – AZO Nano
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