In response to federal funding cuts impacting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, a group of Latino public health leaders launched the National Hispanic Health Research Institute (NHHRI) to ensure that Latino voices are represented in health research, according to the The Associated Press (AP).

 

NHHRI is the first Latino-led research institute dedicated to advancing health equity through community-focused research.

 

Latinos make up nearly 20% of the U.S. population but remain underrepresented in health research. NHHRI aims to change that by building a national collaborative of trusted, culturally rooted organizations dedicated to serving Latino communities.

 

 

The institute combines more than 50 partners from public health, academia and grassroots organizations. To address disparities in underserved communities across the United States, researchers will lead studies that seek to fill representation gaps in research, shape policies and uplift Latino communities. 

 

“Right now, we have both an opportunity and a responsibility to ensure that every family historically left out of the data is finally seen and counted,” NHHRI CEO Ken Barela said, according to the AP. “Our community-led model is designed to change that—because when we’re missing from the research, our communities are erased, and when we’re erased, we’re left behind.”

 

 

The NHHRI plans to publish a public database that will include adults and children in Latino, Afro Latino, Native American and rural communities. To start, research will focus on issues disproportionately impacting Latinos, including maternal mortality and chronic diseases.

 

 

“The NHHRI serves not just as an engine for research but as a guardian of equity,” said NHHRI chief medical officer Andy Beltrán, MD. “By reimagining health research through the lived experiences of Hispanic families, we are laying the foundation for a healthier, more equitable America.”