Jackson Heart Study Coordinating Center

 

The goals of the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) are to: (1) continue novel epidemiologic research on cardiovascular (CV) and related diseases in this cohort; (2) serve as a resource to the scientific community for future research, (3) promote cardiovascular health in the local community, and (4) encourage underrepresented minority students to pursue biomedical careers. 

The scientific objectives of the JHS are to: (1) investigate factors that account for the high burden of CVD in African- Americans, with specific focus on factors related to ventricular dysfunction and heart failure and impaired cognitive function; and (2) improve statistical power for further risk prediction and hypothesis testing, particularly in informative subgroups.

The operational goals of the JHS Coordinating Center (CC) are to: (1) continue to foster scientific collaborations; (2) support cohort follow-up and clinical events ascertainment activities; (3) support a clinic examination of the JHS participants; (4) support activities to promote cardiovascular health in the local community; and (5) encourage underrepresented minority students to pursue biomedical careers.

JHS will continue to serve as a platform for in-depth ancillary studies funded outside of the JHS contracts that leverage the JHS exam and resources. These ancillary studies will be operationally integrated into the main study, and the data will be shared across both types of studies, per JHS and NIH data sharing policies.

Support: 
Contract HHSN268201800010I from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

Jackson Heart Study Field Center
 

The goals of the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) are to: (1) continue novel epidemiologic research on cardiovascular (CV) and related diseases in this cohort; (2) serve as a resource to the scientific community for future research, (3) promote cardiovascular health in the local community, and (4) encourage underrepresented minority students to pursue biomedical careers. 

The scientific objectives of the JHS are to: (1) investigate factors that account for the high burden of CVD in African- Americans, with specific focus on factors related to ventricular dysfunction and heart failure and impaired cognitive function; and (2) improve statistical power for further risk prediction and hypothesis testing, particularly in informative subgroups.

The operational goals of the JHS Field Center (FC) are to: (1) continue to foster scientific collaborations; (2) conduct cohort follow-up and clinical events ascertainment activities; (3) conduct a clinic examination of the JHS participants; and (4) produce and disseminate research findings to scientific and lay communities.

JHS will also continue to serve as a platform for in-depth ancillary studies funded outside of the JHS contracts that leverage the JHS exam and resources. These ancillary studies will be operationally integrated into the main study, and the data will be shared across both types of studies, per JHS and NIH data sharing policies.

Support
Contract 
HHSN268201800011Ifrom the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center (GTEC). 

The overall goals of the UMMC GTEC are to: 1) strengthen the research skills of graduate- and health professional students from groups underrepresented* in biomedical sciences to better prepare them for their professional careers, and to pursue careers in biomedical sciences; and 2) advance the science of research training and education of graduate students. The 2-year graduate-level certificate program will focus on cardiovascular epidemiology, cardiovascular health, minority health, health disparities, and careers in biomedical science by establishing the Robert Smith, MD Graduate Scholars Program, honoring one of the heroes of health and health care in Mississippi, Dr. Robert Smith.

 Activities/Programs Supported

 Each year, 8 students will be selected from a competitive pool of applicants enrolled in programs in health-, STEM-, or social science-related doctoral/health professional programs at Mississippi Colleges and Universities to participate in: two in-person summer institutes (5 days and 3 days respectively), tri-annual research webinars, mini-research internships at JHS Vanguard Centers; mid-year meeting (3 days), career coaching and research mentoring, and participation in and presenting study findings at JHS-related research conferences. Students will be mentored by nationally respected investigators from UMMC, UCLA, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt University and UT Southwestern. Travel costs and research training-related expenses will be provided for the Smith Graduate Scholars.

Support: 
Contract HHSN268201800012I from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.