Research

From Our Research Director:

“Research is the foundation of our mission to end health disparities and advance equity in communities nationwide. I invite you to explore our work and see how you can contribute to this mission.”

Research Committees

NAEHD has established a dedicated research committee for each strategic priority, supporting our mission through focused inquiry and collaborative insight.

Participation is reserved for dues-paying members at the Associate level or higher.

Join NAEHD as a Member!

Our Strategic Priorities

Driving Change in Five Key Areas

Identifying Barriers & Improving Access

Our aim is to dismantle barriers to health equity and expand access to high-quality care. We strive to ensure everyone receives the support needed to live a healthy life.

Improving Maternal Health Outcomes

Black women face maternal mortality rates nearly three times higher than white women. We aim to bridge this gap through targeted, equity-driven strategies and advocacy.

Focusing on Chronic Disease, Rare Disease, & Preventive Care

NAEHD aims to eliminate health disparities in chronic and rare disease care by advancing research, expanding education, and increasing access to effective treatment.

Expanding Counseling & Mental Health Services

NAEHD aims to expand access to mental health services while reducing stigmas and providing free resources to impacted communities.

Assisting the Under & Uninsured

NAEHD vows to support the underinsured and uninsured by helping individuals access affordable care, coverage options, and essential health services in their communities.

Check out our research & publications

Research Spotlight: Evidence Driving Equity

NEW (July 2026)

Termination of AHRQ grants is the latest assault on health equity and the rule of law

AHRQ terminated dozens of grants across multiple programs, including projects focused on chronic disease, maternal health, and health equity. The agency said the terminations were part of a broader shift in priorities under the Trump administration.

Cancer disparities researchers say federal funding changes have disrupted their work

Cancer researchers say grant disruptions are widening gaps in cancer disparities work, with some projects paused or at risk because of funding instability. Scientists warn that interruptions in federal support could slow progress for communities already facing unequal cancer outcomes.

(June 2026)

Health equity researchers fear unseen level of scrutiny under White House proposal

The White House proposal to overhaul how the government awards grants includes a section that health disparities researchers say could disqualify much of their work from federal funding. The proposed regulation would prohibit the use of federal funds to “promote or support theories of disparate‑impact liability,” which researchers warn could undermine efforts to understand distributions of exposures, health outcomes, and the causes of these patterns..

Massive study links teen marijuana use to double the risk of serious mental illness

A huge new study of 463,396 adolescents found that teen cannabis use may double the risk of psychotic and bipolar disorders by young adulthood. Researchers reported that cannabis use often came nearly two years before diagnosis, raising concerns about long‑term effects on developing brains and worsening disparities in mental health outcomes.

(May 2026)

Black Michiganders face wide health disparities

A new national study shows that Black Michiganders continue to experience massive health care disparities, and researchers warn that recent federal policy shifts are likely to widen these racial health gaps.

New report shows some health equity wins. Experts fear they will be short-lived (May 2026)

A new Commonwealth Fund report finds that racial and ethnic health disparities remain severe across the United States, and experts warn that recent federal policy changes could undermine the fragile progress states have made

(April 2026)

From misdiagnosis to medical bias: Why women are living longer but not better

Women are living longer but continue to experience poorer health because their pain is often dismissed, their symptoms are misread, and their conditions are diagnosed too late, reflecting a medical system built without women in mind. The article shows that despite progress in maternal health and reproductive care, persistent medical bias, outdated diagnostic tools, and unequal access to quality care continue to undermine women’s health and quality of life.

From constraint to catalyst: innovation in rare disease clinical development (April 2026)

The article explains how rare disease clinical development is shifting from a landscape defined by small populations and limited data to one that uses these constraints to drive innovation in trial design, patient engagement and regulatory collaboration. It highlights emerging approaches that make research more efficient and patient centered, positioning rare disease development as a catalyst for broader change in clinical research.