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Nicholas Gueguen | Aug 25, 2017

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities names winners of research award

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities has named the recipients of the William G. Coleman Jr., Ph.D., Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Innovation Award.

Postdoctorate fellows Dr. Tracy Layne, Dr. Candace Middlebrooks and Dr. Melanie Sabado received the award.

Layne's fellowship is at the National Cancer Institute. She is observing what in African-American men's biochemical makeup may cause higher rates of prostate cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that African-American men have prostate cancer more often and face a higher risk of death from the disease than men of other races and ethnicities. Research published on the National Center for Biotechnology Information's website shows that African-American had more aggressive types of prostate cancer than other male groups at younger ages.

Middlebrooks is serving her fellowship at the National Human Genome Research Institute. She is looking to find genetic differences that could cause an increased risk of developing leg ulcers, a common complication of sicke cell disease. According to the CDC, one in 13 African-American children are born with sickle cell trait.

Sabado is serving her fellowship with the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. She is observing how Pacific Islander young adults feel about mental health and what they require to support mental well-being, as well as what would cause them to see or prevent them from seeing medical professionals to address mental illness.

Each winner will receive $15,000 to use in fiscal 2017.

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