The specific aim of the Meharry EXPORT Center for Health Disparities is to promote health services research that enhances our understanding of the effects of society, economics, culture, behavior and biology on health; engages the community in the research process; improves the health and well-being of ethnic and racial minorities; and reduces health disparities. The focus of the Meharry EXPORT Center is on areas of health disparities including alcohol and substance abuse, asthma and respiratory disease, cancer, cardio-vascular disease and stroke, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, infant mortality, intentional and unintentional injury, and mental health.  Types of research that are supported include: epidemiology, hypothesis-driven experimental and quasi-experimental designs/interventions, community-based participatory research, and evaluation, policy and qualitative research.   Health behaviors, individual, community and social level risk factors and outcomes associated with health disparities are of particular interest.

The short-term objectives of the MMC EXPORT are to:

1. Establish a research mentoring continuum that enables junior faculty to become independent investigators in areas of health disparities.
   
   
2. Create a supportive academic environment that promotes inter-disciplinary collaboration and community participation in health disparities research.
   
   
3. Expand the funding level of health services research.
   

The EXPORT Center will provide the research infrastructure to support collaborative inter-disciplinary studies, administrative coordination, and a structured framework for conducting health services and community-based participatory research.  Backed by the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance, Vanderbilt University for Health Services Research, and Metro Public Health Department, MMC provides a unique environment for creating an success by the number of faculty who participate in EXPORT sponsored research, training, and related activities, the amount of funded research at MMC, an empowered community capable of supporting the academic research environment, community advancement in the understanding and mitigation of health disparities, and a reduction in health disparities

Mission:

Core Values:  

• Support and conduct research that improves the health of minority populations.
  
  
• Foster culturally sensitive approaches to health improvement interventions.
  
  
• Integrate the social sciences and humanities in research and health promotion.
  
  
• Facilitate inter-disciplinary collaboration to produce evidence-based research and decision-making.
  
  
• Develop culturally informed and scientifically valid research tools.
  
  
• Commit all resources toward elimination of health disparities.

Center Goals:

Goal 1: To create an infrastructure to support community-based clinical, epidemiological and health services research addressing the Center's mission

Goal 2: To develop a community-based network of practice sites that will serve as an important laboratory for research and demonstration projects

Goal 3: To recruit, support and retain talented investigators to conduct this work.

Goal 4: To develop a well-funded research portfolio addressing provider, patient and system's behaviors and their interactions with the content, structures and processes of care.

Goal 5: To develop and support training programs to create new scholars in this field.

Goal 6: To design, implement, evaluate and disseminate model clinical programs targeting these behaviors that will improve health and reduce population disparities.