Obesity Health Disparities Research Center Announces New Pilot Project Recipients (2020)
The UAB Obesity Health Disparities Research Center, an MHRC initiative funded through the NIH and the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities’ Centers of Excellence program announces its 2020 pilot project recipients. Congratulations to the investigators from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Louisiana State University Health Science Center.
![Edwin N. Aroke, PhD, CRNA](/medicine/obesity/images/OHDRC_Pilot_Awardee_Pix/Edwin-Aroke.jpg)
Edwin N. Aroke, PhD, CRNA
Assistant Professor, UAB School of Nursing
Dr. Aroke’s project is entitled “Does Variation in DNA methylation explain the obesity-pain link among African Americans?”
![Joseph D. Wolfe, PhD](/medicine/obesity/images/OHDRC_Pilot_Awardee_Pix/Joseph-Wolfe.jpg)
Joseph D. Wolfe, PhD
Associate Professor, UAB Department of Sociology
Dr. Wolfe’s research asks the question “Who’s Hurt Most by Economic Shocks? Heterogeneity in the Effects of Wealth Loss on Obesity and Health in the U.S. Population, 1990 to 2016.”
![Fokhrul Hossain, PhD](/medicine/obesity/images/OHDRC_Pilot_Awardee_Pix/Fokhrul-Hossain.jpg)
Fokhrul Hossain, PhD
Instructor-Research
Louisiana State University Health Science Center Department of Genetics
Dr. Hossain will investigate “Obesity and Triple Negative Breast Cancer Disparities in Louisiana.”
“The OHDRC Pilot Program facilitates emerging research ideas, explores new methodologies and approaches, and facilitates transdisciplinary research as it relates to obesity-related health disparities,” said Mona Fouad, MD, MPH, principal investigator for the Center. “This program advances the field of obesity health disparities and supports the OHDRC’s overall mission of reducing disparities in obesity.”
The UAB Obesity Health Disparities Research Center is supported by National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities under grant #U54MD000502.
2019 Obesity Health Disparities Pilot Awards Announced
![Pankaj Arora MD](/medicine/obesity/images/Pankaj_Arora_MD.jpg)
Pankaj Arora, MD (Assistant Professor, Cardiovascular Disease) has received a pilot grant from the UAB Obesity Health Disparities Research Center to study the effects of a new medicine on cardiometabolic health in African-Americans. They will use metabolic carts to determine whether sacubritril/valsartan will improve the insulin resistance and energy expenditure for these patients.
![Laura Dreer](/medicine/obesity/images/OHDRC_Pilot_Awardee_Pix/Laura_Dreer.png)
![Pamela G. Bowen](/medicine/obesity/images/OHDRC_Pilot_Awardee_Pix/Pamela_G._Bowen.png)
Pamela G. Bowen, PhD, (Assistant Professor, Nursing) is investigating TOSS Feasibility + Fitbit Community = Reduced Obesity in Older Black Women. This 12-week feasibility study will test an obesity-reduction intervention— Texting Older Sisters to Step (TOSS) PA– to determine its acceptability and impact among older, overweight or obese Black women.
Previous Pilot Awardees
![Andrew Smith](/medicine/obesity/images/OHDRC_Pilot_Awardee_Pix/Andrew_Smith.png)
Andrew Smith, MD, PhD (Associate Professor, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center), is investigating the Liver Surface Nodularity Score as a Non-Invasive Biomarker for Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
![Zechen Chong](/medicine/obesity/images/OHDRC_Pilot_Awardee_Pix/Zechen_Chong.png)
Zechen Chong, PhD, (Assistant Professor, Genetics), is researching The Genomic Landscape of Obese Cancer Patients in Minority Groups.
![Tiffany Carson](/medicine/obesity/images/OHDRC_Pilot_Awardee_Pix/Tiffany_Carson.png)
Tiffany Carson, PhD, (Assistant Professor in Preventive Medicine), is studying Modifying Diet and the Gut Microbiota to Reduce Obesity and Health Disparities.
![Ariel Salas](/medicine/obesity/images/OHDRC_Pilot_Awardee_Pix/Ariel_Salas.png)
Ariel Salas, MD, MSPH, Assistant Professor, Neonatology, is studying Serial Assessments of Body Fat Accrual in Very Preterm Infants.
Residents at Campus of Hope are learning their health numbers
Every Wednesday from 2-4 p.m., Birmingham public housing residents flock to the Campus of Hope at the Marks Village Community Center for free wellness screenings, provided by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) as part of their Building Healthy Communities initiative.
These weekly wellness checks allow community members to stay on top of important health indicators, such as blood pressure, pulse rate, BMI and blood glucose levels. After screenings are conducted, residents are given a copy of their results. A registered nurse also goes over the results with the participant and offers tips to improve health outcomes if necessary.
“We offer basic health screenings for those without access,” said Kimberly Speights, program administrator at the MHRC. “Over 90% of the residents in this area don’t have primary care physicians and depend on expensive emergency room visits to provide care when they feel or fall sick. In making these screenings accessible, we ultimately guide them towards primary care by encouraging a search for a provider and giving them copies of their results, which facilitates intake and eases transition into primary care.”
Screenings also present the opportunity to uncover urgent health conditions that may go unnoticed in residents. For instance, one woman’s blood sugar levels were alarmingly high. In cases such as these, staff have referred individuals to hospitals.
Almost 300 community members have participated in Wellness Wednesdays over the past six months. As another opportunity to embrace health and wellness, the MHRC also sponsors a Lunch and Learn, once a month from 1-2 p.m., right before the wellness screenings. These sessions focus on a guest speaker discussing various topics and as the name suggests, free lunch is available. Past Lunch and Learns’ themes have included blood pressure, mental health, financial literacy and bike safety.
Wellness Wednesdays health screenings are offered each Wednesday from 2-4 pm at the Campus of Hope at Marks Village, located at 7527 66th St. S, Birmingham, AL 35212.
Kingston Teaching Farm Dedicated in Memory of Dick Pigford
In honor of a beloved community supporter and friend, the Kingston Teaching Farm was renamed and dedicated to Richard Ireland Pigford on August 7, 2019. Known to most as "Dick", the noted architect and Kingston Coaltion charter member passed away on March 31, 2019.
"We are humbled by the dedication of the teaching farm in Dick's name," said wife Dana Pigford. "This gesture from the people of Kingston is an honor and means so much to our family."
Dick Pigford was known for his participation and leadership in the UAB Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center's Building Healthy Communities Coalition in Kingston and his love for the peole of Birmingham, especially those in the Kingston community. Mr. Pigford was deeply involved with and tirelessly committed to various initiatives in Kingston, such as the Kingston Community Garden, numerous projects at the Morton Simpson Housing Community Center, Holistics Neighborhoods and Kingston's "Get to Know Your Neighbor Day".
"Dick was a tremendous presence in Birmingham and surrounding communities and one that will be sorely missed," said Mona Fouad, director of the UAB Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center and Principal Investigator for the Obesity Health Disparities Research Center which supports the work of the Building Healthy Communities Coalitions. "We are grateful to be able to hnor one of his many legacies and sustain the impact he made on community health."
"Mr. Pigford was not only a member of our Kingston BHC Coalition, but he was also a friend who was eager to collaborate on ideas so that we could continue the work of eliminating barriers for the residents of the community," said Tiffany Osborne, MHRC Community Engagement Director.
The Kingston Teaching Farm was renamed and dedicated to Dick Pigford at a ceremony at the garden, where a permanent sign was unveiled.