Jackson Heart Study

About Us

The Jackson Heart Study exemplifies a unique collaborative model among three institutional partners, the Jackson community, and the National Institutes of Health to discover and test best practices for eliminating health disparities.

See Full Overview: About the JHS

OUR MISSION

The mission of the JHS is to elucidate the reasons for the greater prevalence of cardiovascular disease among African Americans and to uncover new approaches for reducing this health disparity. In addressing its mission, the Jackson Heart Study values accountability, commitment, competency, collaboration, excellence, respect, teamwork, and trust.

OUR VISION

The Jackson Heart Study will transform a history of African Americans’ heart disease into a legacy of heart health through research, and by translating and disseminating research results. The Jackson Heart Study will involve the community in research approaches, and prepare young African American/minority students for careers in health sciences.

OUR OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of the Jackson Heart Study is to investigate the causes of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in African Americans to learn how to best prevent this group of diseases in the future. More specific objectives include:

1. Identification of factors, which influence the development, and worsening of CVD in African Americans, with an emphasis on manifestations related to high blood pressure (such as remodeling of the left ventricle of the heart, coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke and disorders affecting the blood vessels of the kidney).

2. Building research capabilities in minority institutions at the undergraduate and graduate level by developing partnerships between minority and majority institutions and enhancing participation of minority investigators in large-scale epidemiologic studies.

3. Attracting minority students to and preparing them for careers in health sciences.

Participating Institutions

Jackson State University

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Jackson State University

Jackson State University serves as the JHS Graduate Training and Education Center (GTEC).

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Tougaloo College

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Tougaloo College

Tougaloo College serves as the Undergraduate Education and Training (UTEC) Program.

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University of MS Medical Center

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University of MS Medical Center

The University of Mississippi Medical Center serves as the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) Coordinating Center (CC) and Field Center (FC) and is responsible for overall study coordination, communications, data management, analytical/statistical support, conducting annual follow-up interviews with the JHS participants, determining and classifying of CVD events (heart attack, stroke, heart failure), and facilitating and participating in JHS initiatives.
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MS. State D epartment Of Health

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MS Dept. of Health

Community Engagement Center (CEC).

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Key Study and Cohort Background Papers

Design and Methods paper

Response rates and sample description

Study design for genetic analysis

Cardiovascular disease event classifications

Laboratory, reading center, and coordinating center data management methods

JHS Administration

Meet our Director and learn more about our Steering Committee and Subcommittees. The Steering Committee has primary responsibility for planning, directing, and facilitating the conduct of the study; and ensuring participant safety and compliance with participants’ informed consents.The JHS subcommittees operate as a function of the Steering Committee to insure that specific tasks related to Study operations are addressed by representatives who have the expertise and interest to make decisions on behalf of the Study.

Click here to view Jackson Heart Study Organization Chart