The Center for Health Equity and Population Sciences (CPSHE) at Florida State University has partnered with the Panama Institute for Scientific Research and Advanced Technology (INDICASAT-AIP), a biomedical research institute located in the Knowledge City of the Republic of Panama, to advance research on health equity. You have taken an important step. Promote global health research.
A government-sponsored hotspot for academic societies, technology companies, and non-governmental organizations, the City of Knowledge is also home to FSU's branch campus in Panama.
This collaboration leverages the leadership of CPSHE, known for its dedication to advancing population science and promoting health equity, and the community engagement expertise of INDICASAT-AIP, Panama's leading institution in scientific research and high technology. unite.
Three CPSHE researchers in FSU's College of Nursing have been appointed as INDICASAT-AIP assistant researchers for the next three years. As part of the partnership, CPSHE Founding Director Frankie Wong, Co-Director Eugenia Millender, and Assistant Director Casey Xavier Hall will assist with grant applications, mentor doctoral students, and Provide support and expertise in presenting at conferences and leading research studies.
FSU College of Nursing Dean Jing Wang said the partnership is an example of how international collaboration can accelerate progress toward global health equity.
“By combining the expertise of both institutions, we can make a real difference in the lives of people in Panama and beyond,” Wang said. “This project has the potential to serve as a model for future research efforts that address health disparities in Afro-Panamanian communities and prioritize community engagement and social justice.” I am extremely proud of the leadership role I am playing and look forward to the positive impact it will have on the world.”
CPSHE and INDICASAT-AIP will work towards decentralizing the type of research being done in Panama by engaging in more community-based research and including Afro-Panamanians. Its goal is to address issues of public health disparities and trust in science and medicine internationally.
“This collaboration highlights our shared commitment to advancing research and fostering international partnerships in the field of health equity,” said Gabriel Britton, Research Director of INDICASAT-AIP's Center for Neuroscience. said.
Millender and Britton's research focuses on cognitive and health disparities among Afro-Panamanians, and they aim to build community-based, participatory programs that go beyond this single project. This study will leverage CPSHE's expertise in community-based research to engage and connect with Panamanian communities and strengthen the institute's efforts in aging and cognitive health research.
Panama's Gorgas Memorial Health Institute (ICGES) and the Minister of African Panamanian National Policy and Development (SENADAP) will support the project. ICGES is the nation's leading organization for promoting and conducting health research. Wong and Millender are special researchers.. SENADAP is a Panamanian government agency responsible for supporting and advocating for projects aimed at strengthening and promoting the social, political, health, and cultural rights of Panama's African population.
“This joint effort with INDICASAT, ICGES and SENADAP represents an important step forward in our commitment to global health research and collaboration,” said Millender. “By combining our strengths and resources, we can make a lasting impact on health outcomes around the world.”
Britton drew parallels between the challenges facing Black/African American communities in the United States and the health disparities experienced by Afro-Panamanian communities in Panama.
“As in the U.S., black people in Panama are at higher risk for a variety of illnesses and conditions because they lack access to health care or receive health care later than most people,” Britton said. said.
Panama ranks as the second most unequal country in the Americas, which particularly affects the traditionally black city of Cologne. The city grapples with serious health issues, including some of the highest rates of HIV and tuberculosis. Mr. Britton emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues through science, with a focus on generating data to influence the development of public policy and dismantle deeply entrenched social structures.
“In Panama, as in most countries around the world, people of African descent are underrepresented in research,” Britton says. “We need more of them because they make up such a large percentage of the population in Panama.”
What is noteworthy is that this collaboration Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Regional headquarters moved from Guatemala to the U.S. Embassy in Panama. Britton expects the CDC's influence will improve data collection and public health research in Panama, making the partnership even more important.
For more information about CPSHE, please visit: cpshe.fsu.edu.
