To reduce mortality for people experiencing cardiovascular health disparities, new innovations in health care must be implemented with strategic partnerships that involve trusted organizations and community members.

Northwestern’s scientists are also lending their expertise to support community-led health interventions. Northwestern provides support to Pastors 4 PCOR (P4P), which was launched in 2014 by faith leaders in Chicago in partnership with the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) Institute. The P4P program trains faith-based community facilitators to lead research programs designed to meet needs in their communities. One identified need is for better blood-pressure control.

Heart and lung disease are leading causes of illness and death in the United States, and the disease burden is unequal across groups defined by race/ethnicity, sex and/or gender, and socioeconomic status. Numerous programs have been proven to reduce heart disease, but too often they are not put into practice in the communities where they are most needed.

The National Institutes of Health awarded a $8.7 million grant to Tulane University to study whether churches can play a significant role in helping to eliminate cardiovascular health disparities among African Americans.