REGARDS Study Grant Renewed: UVM’s Continued Contributions to Reducing Stroke Disparities by Race and Geography
Vermont Business Magazine The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont (UVM) has secured $10.1 million in renewed funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue its involvement in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. Launched in 2001, REGARDS is a national study that investigates the risk factors contributing to stroke and cognitive disorders, focusing on disparities based on race and geography.
Over the past 23 years, REGARDS has tracked over 30,000 Black and White adults across the U.S., revealing key disparities in stroke and cognitive health. One major finding showed that Black Americans under age 75 are more than twice as likely to experience stroke and die from stroke compared to their White counterparts.
It also discovered that those living in the Southern U.S. have a 40% higher risk of stroke-related death. It also noted that Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) occur more frequently in Black Americans. While REGARDS investigators have uncovered a litany of reasons for these differences, unfortunately, trends in adverse health in Black Americans seem to be worsening over time.
In the new phase, to study trends toward worsening health in recent years, REGARDS will visit 8,000 remaining original participants and enroll 12,000 new participants from across the U.S. UVM’s Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research (LCBR) will continue to play a critical role. LCBR will process and analyze blood and urine samples from all 20,000 participants and provide essential data to study stroke and dementia trends in Black Americans and other high-risk groups.
“With this funding, UVM can build on its long history of impactful research in stroke disparities,” said Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., University Distinguished Professor at UVM and co-leader of REGARDS. “This next step will help us address worsening health outcomes and offer solutions to narrow the racial gap in stroke and brain health.”
REGARDS has published over 750 academic papers, significantly advancing the understanding of how factors like race and location influence health outcomes. The renewed NIH grant of $37.1 million over five years includes $10.1 million for UVM, further supporting the institution’s mission to investigate and mitigate these disparities.
Beyond the primary study, UVM’s involvement has also helped faculty secure over $33 million in additional funding through ancillary studies. Current projects are led by Larner faculty, including Nels Olson, Ph.D., and Debora Kamin Mukaz, Ph.D.
“Studies like REGARDS are crucial for training the next generation of researchers,” said Cushman. “UVM students and trainees gain real-world research experience, analyzing data from this study to answer vital health questions. Many have gone on to build careers in research thanks to these opportunities.”
The REGARDS study’s renewal highlights UVM’s leadership in health disparity research, and its commitment to improving the well-being of vulnerable populations. The REGARDS study would not be possible without the work of key staff members at the Larner College of Medicine, including Elaine Cornell, Rebekah Boyle, Jill Sanders, and Nicole Gagne.
About the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
Founded in 1822, the Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine at the University of Vermont is dedicated to developing exceptional physicians and scientists by offering innovative curriculum designs, state-of-the-art research facilities, and clinical partnerships with leading health care institutions. The college’s commitment to excellence has earned national recognition, attracting talented students, trainees, physicians, and researchers from across the country. With a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, the Larner College of Medicine prides itself on cultivating an environment that uplifts and supports its faculty and student populations while advancing medical education, research, and patient care in Vermont and beyond. Learn more at med.uvm.edu
Source: 10.1.2024. Burlington, Vt.—The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
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