April 2025 — The Innovative Statistics and Data Research Center (ISDRC) has announced a major research partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to launch a nationwide study aimed at identifying and addressing health disparities in underserved populations.
The multi-year initiative, titled Statistical Equity in Health Outcomes, will integrate large-scale health, demographic, and social datasets to uncover systemic patterns in health access, disease burden, and treatment efficacy. The collaboration will focus on applying advanced statistical modeling, predictive analytics, and geospatial analysis to support targeted public health interventions and evidence-based policy reforms.
“This project brings together ISDRC’s strengths in statistical innovation with NIH’s mission to improve health outcomes for all communities,” said Dr. Nathaniel Chambers, Executive Director of ISDRC. “Our joint work will help move beyond surface-level indicators and dig deep into the structural data that reveal why health inequities persist.”
The initiative will emphasize regional disparities in chronic illness, maternal health, and mental health services, particularly in rural and historically marginalized urban areas. Through a series of data-driven pilot programs, the project will explore how social determinants—such as housing stability, transportation, and environmental exposure—contribute to gaps in care and outcomes.
NIH officials highlighted ISDRC’s role in building statistical equity metrics and dynamic visualizations that make complex data actionable for public health leaders and policymakers. “ISDRC’s capacity to develop interpretable, transparent models made them a clear partner for this work,” said Dr. Anika Shah, Director of the NIH Office of Minority Health Research.
The first phase of the project is set to begin in June 2025, with findings to be released publicly through interactive dashboards, peer-reviewed publications, and open-access data briefs.
This partnership marks a significant step in ISDRC’s growing portfolio of national-level research collaborations and further affirms its commitment to using data science for societal good.
