Message from the Director
September 26, 2023
Today, I formally designated people with disabilities as a population experiencing health disparities for NIH research. I made this designation in consultation with Dr. Robert Otto Valdez, Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. This decision was made after careful consideration of the Final Report of the National Advisory Committee on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NACMHD), input from the disability community, and a review of the science and evidence.
People with disabilities often experience a wide variety of health conditions that lead to poorer health outcomes and shorter life spans. In addition, discrimination, inequality, and exclusionary structural practices, programs, and policies impede their access to timely and comprehensive health care, further contributing to poorer health outcomes. People with disabilities who also belong to one or more other populations with disproportionate health outcomes are even worse off. NIMHD recognizes the importance and need for research to better understand the complexities that lead to health disparities and multi-layered interventions.
Efforts to advance the science of disability research are underway. Today, we announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for research focused on novel and innovative approaches and interventions to address the impact of disability, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status on health care access and health outcomes. NIMHD will support outstanding research on this topic, while considering other criteria.
Finally, we present the NACMHD Working Group’s final report, which outlines an analysis of the scientific landscape and opportunities for scientific advancement to address disability health disparities. We are extremely appreciative of the Working Group’s efforts and thank them for helping us consider a range of issues and set a course for their resolution.
NIMHD maintains a strong commitment to understanding the impact of health disparities on people with disabilities and supporting research to ultimately improve the lives and health of people with disabilities.
Eliseo J. PĂ©rez Stable, MD
Director, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
Dr. Robert Otto Valdez, MHSA
Commissioner of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Page updated on October 31, 2023 | Created on September 28, 2023