Many groups—including those defined by race, ethnicity, immigrant status, disability, sex, gender, income, or geography—experience poorer health outcomes compared with the general population. NIH supports research to develop evidence-based interventions to reduce these health disparities so that people nationwide have an equal opportunity to live long and healthy lives.
This page includes resources to help you conduct research on health disparities, health equity, and social determinants of health (the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, age, work, and play).
From ODP
Pathways to Prevention Workshop: Achieving Health Equity in Preventive Services
This workshop identified evidence gaps and future priorities for research on disparities in the use of clinical services for early detection and prevention of common chronic conditions. You can use the systematic evidence review, independent panel’s report, and federal partners’ action plan to help fill research gaps.
Pathways to Prevention Workshop: Can Physical Activity Improve the Health of Wheelchair Users?
This workshop identified evidence gaps and future priorities for research on physical activity interventions for people who use wheeled mobility devices. Workshop recordings are now available.
Resources for Researchers
Explore databases and tools for health disparities research.
HDPulse Data Portal
Visualize data and locate information critical to understanding minority health, health disparities, and their determinants. Data are collected from public health surveillance systems by using either their published reports or public use files.
PhenX Toolkit: Social Determinants of Health Collection
The PhenX Toolkit provides recommended standard measures of phenotypes and environmental exposures for use in biomedical research. This collection includes common data elements for research on social determinants of health.
Measurement and Data in Sexual & Gender Minority Health Research
A set of resources for those looking to better understand how to capture sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations in research and clinical settings. Information provided includes data sources, examples of sexual orientation and gender identity questions, and related publications.
Healthy People 2030—Social Determinants of Health
Learn about national efforts to address social determinants of health—including information about current research and resources to develop programs and policies that are informed by evidence on what's effective, replicable, scalable, and sustainable.
Funding
Interested in funding opportunities or planning to submit an application in health disparities research? Use these tools to find what you need:
NIH Institutes/Centers and Federal Partner Activities
The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) is the NIH component dedicated to health disparities research. Many NIH Institutes and Centers actively engage in and support research related to addressing health disparities and may be helpful starting points as you plan your research or if you’re exploring the latest work in a particular area.
We encourage you to use the links provided to find the most up-to-date information, including how to contact program officials who may be able to address your specific questions.