DALLAS, July 29, 2021 — The American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to a world of longer, healthier lives, has awarded $20 million in grants to five scientific research teams to find new solutions for preventing high blood pressure . The research projects will focus on hypertension prevention in underserved populations with historically the highest prevalence of this mostly preventable, but potentially deadly condition.
The Health Equity Research Network ( HERN ) on the Prevention of Hypertension is part of the multi-pronged approach of the American Heart Association’s unprecedented pledge to aggressively address social determinants of health while working to improve health equity for all communities.
Teams of scientists from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in Baltimore, NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Wayne State University in Detroit will lead the community engaged research projects. A separate team at NYU will serve as the coordinating center for the network to help train the next generation of hypertension health equity researchers, providing consultation and guidance, compiling data reports and coordinating the administration of the initiative.
“High blood pressure is a leading risk factor of heart disease and stroke that can often be prevented or managed if diagnosed and treated properly. However, there are significant racial and ethnic disparities in both the prevalence of hypertension and its management,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones, M.D., Sc.D., FAHA, president of the American Heart Association and chair of the department of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. “Uncontrolled hypertension is particularly acute in communities of color. We are excited to launch this new research initiative to support the fast-track advancement of science to prevent hypertension with a focus on health equity.”
RESTORE (AddREssing Social Determinants TO pRevent hypErtension) Network is the name of the overarching research program. It will be managed by a multidisciplinary team from NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York, led by Gbenga Ogedegbe, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Institute for Excellence in Health Equity. The coordinating center will oversee the establishment of, and provide support and resources to, the five research projects. The RESTORE Network will be testing multiple strategies to help people overcome the social determinants of health like poor access to care, food deserts and lack of places for exercise that is pervasive in Black communities.
The projects, which commence on Oct. 1, 2021, include:
The American Heart Association, the world's leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, is the largest not-for-profit funding source for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease research next to the federal government. Since 1949, the Association has invested more than $4.6 billion in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and brain health research . New knowledge resulting from this funding benefits millions of lives in every corner of the U.S. and around the world.
###
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org , Facebook , Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.