The Solutions to Diabetes in Black Americans Core aims to provide foundational knowledge about the effects of historical oppression and structural racism on current contexts for viable and sustainable interventions. The Core also aims to advance the use of systematic approaches incorporating social determinants of health, cultural, and other contextual influences in diabetes translation research with Black populations, while increasing the capacity of investigators to address critical gaps in research.

This Core is made possible through partnership with the Council on Black Health, a national research and action network founded by Dr. Shiriki Kumanyika in 2002. The Council’s mission is “to develop and promote solutions that achieve healthy Black communities.” The Council supports a national network of members, including both established and emerging Black scholars, and engages with prominent national Black organizations (i.e., NAACP, The 100 Black Men of America, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Black Women’s Health Imperative, and the National Black Child Development Institute) to address critical Black health issues.

Core Personnel

Shiriki  Kumanyika, PHD, MS, MPH

Shiriki Kumanyika, PHD, MS, MPH

Director: Solutions to Diabetes in Black Americans Core | Founding Chair of the Council on Black Health

Tiffany Eaton, DrPH(c), MPH

Core Manager: Solutions in Diabetes in Black Americans | Doctoral Student of Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University

Melicia C Whitt-Glover, PhD

Melicia C Whitt-Glover, PhD

Associate Director: Solutions in Diabetes in Black Americans Core | Executive Director of the Council on Black Health

Shelly Johnston, MPH, RD

Shelly Johnston, MPH, RD

Research Project Coordinator, Center for Diabetes Translation Research

Core Services

  • Provide tailored technical assistance to equip investigators to address effects of historical oppression and structural racism in planning diabetes translation research with Black populations. 
  • Provide virtual group consultations on selected research from the web-based resource and case studies with or relevant to Black populations that address or mitigate adverse SDoH
  • Facilitate the use of a web-based resource on historical oppression and structural racism and its impact on diabetes and obesity in Black communities
  • Provide tailored technical assistance to assist investigators in :
    • Navigating a database of frameworks and typologies for diabetes translation research which can be used in the planning and analysis of context-sensitive research with Black Americans;
    • Applying frameworks and tools for diabetes translation research
    • Identifying research questions and measurement needs to fill gaps identified in expert recommendations and scoping reviews or through original scoping reviews
    • Developing research proposals to address gaps

Resources