Racial Disparities in Liver Diseases

描述（由申请人提供）： 申请人的长期职业目标是通过进行精心设计的以患者为导向的研究和增加从事以患者为导向的消化系统疾病研究的训练有素的研究科学家的数量来减少美国肝病的种族差异。在美国，慢性丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）感染是肝硬化最常见的病因，也是原发性肝细胞癌（HCC）的主要原因。几项精心设计的人群研究发现，与白色美国人相比，美国黑人的HCV患病率更高，原发性肝细胞癌的HCC发病率和死亡率也更高。具有讽刺意味的是，黑人在聚乙二醇干扰素联合利巴韦林治疗期间的HCV清除率要低得多。更好地了解基于种族的健康差异的原因是制定全面战略以改善少数民族和美国普通民众健康的必要条件。豪厄尔博士是一位知名的研究员，在以患者为导向的种族差异研究方面拥有出色的经验。他的近期职业目标是：1）开发一项新的以患者为导向的研究，调查肝病种族差异的基础; 2）为马里兰州大学越来越多的对以患者为导向的肝脏研究感兴趣的学员提供高质量的指导，包括胃肠道和传染病研究培训赠款;以及3）通过完成临床研究的教学课程，加强他未来以患者为导向的研究项目和指导的背景。在以患者为导向的研究（K24）奖的中期职业生涯研究者奖将提高申请人的职业发展和未来的成功，以患者为导向的研究，让他减少他的病人护理，教学和机构服务的义务，并花更多的时间追求这些重要的目标和目的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The applicant's long-term career objective is to decrease racial disparities in liver diseases in the United States by conducting well-designed patient-oriented research and by increasing the number of highly trained research scientists engaged in patient-oriented research in digestive diseases. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common etiology for liver cirrhosis and a major cause for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the US. Several well-designed population studies have found a greater HCV prevalence and both a higher HCC incidence and mortality from primary hepatocellular carcinoma in Black Americans compared to White Americans. Ironically, Blacks have a much lower rate of HCV clearance during peginterferon plus ribavirin treatment. A better understanding of the causes for health disparities based on race is a necessary to develop comprehensive strategies to improve the health of racial minorities as well as the general US populace. Dr. Howell is an established investigator with an excellent track in patient-oriented research on racial disparities. His immediate career objectives are: 1) to develop a new patient-oriented research studies investigating the basis for racial disparities in liver disease; 2) to provide high-quality mentorship for the increasing numbers of trainees interested in patient-oriented liver research at the University of Maryland, including Gastrointestinal and Infectious Diseases research training grants; and 3) to strengthen his background for future patient-oriented research projects and mentoring by completing didactic coursework in clinical investigation. The Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) award will enhance the applicant's career development and future success in patient-oriented research by allowing him to decrease his patient care, teaching, and institutional service obligations and to spend more time pursuing these important goals and objectives.