Grant awarded for minority patient research

UCLA researchers have received a $3.89 million grant to establish a center that focuses on care for disadvantaged and at-risk minorities.

The grant, which was awarded to UCLA by the American Heart Association, trains scientists to conduct research on exploring how to prevent stroke and heart attack in minority patients.

Barbara Vickrey, a professor of neurology and one of the lead researchers working with the grant, said her group will team up with the Los Angeles County hospital system and local community agencies to look at environmental and behavioral risk factors.

Vickrey said a concern in minority communities is the large number of people who are uninsured, do not speak English and lack access to convenient transportation. These factors often lead to inadequate care, which increases the chances of patients undergoing a second stroke, Vickrey added.

“We’re trying to figure out ways of reducing a second stroke in people who are poor and uninsured,” she said.

The grant will fund two primary areas of research ““ one focused on bringing in nurse practitioners to work directly with patients, and another comparing causation of stroke with local environmental factors, according to a UCLA statement.

Vickrey said the first research study will utilize nurse practitioners to monitor patients and empower them to change their lifestyles. The study will then see whether the method is successful and cost-effective.

The second research study will analyze data that pertains to factors such as the availability of supermarkets, medical clinics and crime and safety in a neighborhood, Vickrey added.

“We’re looking at whether the incidence of stroke is directly related to the community,” she said.

When the research is completed, UCLA will share its findings with other major medical centers across the nation.

Nick Bhatt, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association, said the association chose to fund UCLA due to its commitment to fund innovative research.

“The AHA has proudly funded over $10 million to UCLA researchers since 2006. Some of these grants went to high- level scientists, but the overwhelming majority went to trainees and assistant professors,” Bhatt said.

Compiled by Ben Thaler, Bruin senior staff.

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