Working together to make a difference
The Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative (SHERC) SHERC is a National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) grant-funded cooperative agreement through the National Institutes of Health (NIH #U54MD012388) within the Center for Community Health and Engaged Research at Northern Arizona University.
SHERC is part of the NIMHD’s Research Centers in Minority Institutions Program.
Overall goal of the Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative (SHERC)
To increase basic biomedical, clinical, and behavioral research at Northern Arizona University (NAU) to address health disparities and advance health equity among diverse populations of the southwestern United States.
In the next five years, we will increase research capacity especially in the areas of clinical and translational research with a focus on team science.
Community partner collaborations through team science and translational research
SHERC works closely with community partners to expand their capacity to address health disparities in chronic and infectious diseases, as well as high-priority behavioral health conditions, as determined by community partners.
We work with schools, hospitals, community-based organizations, federally qualified health centers, the U.S. Indian Health Service, tribal public health authorities, and tribal and border health programs in Arizona to develop biomedical, clinical, and behavioral interventions aimed at increasing health equity.
SHERC cores
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Administrative Tab Open
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Investigator Development Tab Closed
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Community Engagement Tab Closed
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Research Capacity Tab Closed
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Recruitment Tab Closed
Administrative Accordion Open
Ensuring that research and career enhancement in the area of health equity continue to grow at NAU. The Administrative Core creates a framework for all the SHERC core components to work together efficiently and effectively, and continually and carefully monitors SHERC component activities to ensure that SHERC keeps its efforts focused on the goals of the program.
Investigator Development Accordion Closed
Supporting the development of early-stage investigators (ESIs) and underrepresented faculty (UR) from racially, ethnically and other marginalized communities or disadvantaged backgrounds in basic biomedical, behavioral, and/or clinical sciences with a focus on translational and team science.
This goal is met through the Pilot Project Program and the Individualized Mentoring Program.
Community Engagement Accordion Closed
The Community Engagement Core (CEC) endeavors to cultivate and sustain productive collaborations and partnerships with community-based organizations and leaders in meaningful ways that foster awareness and participation in health equity research among diverse populations in Arizona. Guided by a four direction framework and in collaboration with our CEC Advisory Council, the CEC aims to effect change through: Dialogue, Knowledge, Action, and Reflection.
Research Capacity Accordion Closed
Supporting esearch efforts university-wide through the Technical Assistance Group – Service Center, methodological education workshop program, and infrastructure enhancement program. This includes helping health equity projects, programs and affiliated investigators in interdisciplinary research methods and emerging technologies.
Recruitment Accordion Closed
Recruiting and supporting faculty members with established health equity research programs to fill gaps in institutional expertise, and to support the mission of SHERC.
As such, the Recruitment Core is responsible for designing and conducting effective and viable recruitment strategies to attract variable pools of qualified applicants, including members of historically underrepresented groups, to consider positions at NAU.
By the numbers
8
Funded Research Projects20
Funded Pilot Projects17
Funded Community-Campus Projects8
Funded Administrative Supplements1
Funded Diversity Supplement
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number U54MD012388. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.