AU earns grant to research racial health disparities

Funds from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation will go toward a pioneering study that examines the impact discrimination has had on Black people living with multiple sclerosis in rural communities. This is the first grant Auburn has received from the foundation.

“We are proud to support this project that will provide critical data about a population that has largely not been included in studies in the past. We are confident that ultimately this work will help more patients have better health outcomes and advance health equity on a broad scale,” said John Damonti, the foundation’s president. 

For decades, the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation has worked with its grantees to improve health outcomes for underserved communities around the world.

Multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system, disrupting and interrupting communication between the brain and body. Researchers estimate that nearly one million people in the U.S. — including 3 out of every 1,000 Black people —live with the disease, according to the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation. 

The cause of the disease is still unknown, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. 

As a part of AU’s study, researchers will work together to develop a patient-centered psychological intervention, which has potential to significantly advance science. The expected outcomes include a roadmap for an evidence-based psychological treatment plan that will provide a strong foundation for specialists to move toward clinical trials.

According to AU, findings from the study will help researchers develop customized support for patients, improving the disproportionate health outcomes in this population.

Black people experience “a more aggressive progression and greater incidence of disability from multiple sclerosis than other groups,” said Evelyn Hunter, an associate professor of counseling psychology with Auburn’s College of Education.

“Because this community is also underrepresented in research studies, scientists don’t yet know why the disease affects them differently. Our expectation is that this research and the psychological and medical insights that follow will improve the health and quality of life for those living with this disease,” Hunter said. 

Hunter will lead the study. He is collaborating with Dr. William Meador, a neurologist at University of Alabama at Birmingham; Marilyn Cornish, an associate professor of counseling psychology at AU; and Candice Hargons, an associate professor of counseling psychology at the University of Kentucky.

“Research with real-world impact is foundational to the work we do,” said Jeffrey T. Fairbrother, dean of Auburn’s College of Education. “We’re grateful for the generous support for Dr. Hunter’s research from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation. This grant will help us advance our goals of increasing knowledge and making a difference in people’s lives.”