Researchers from the Minneapolis-based University of Minnesota received two grants totaling over $6.5 million from the National Institutes of Health to study pediatric cardiovascular health, the university said March 31.
The research will examine how psychosocial stress puts children at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and how cardiometabolic risk arises from food insecurity during childhood.
"These studies are poised to address highly impactful problems that are driven by social and structural determinants of health in school-aged children and adolescents, including both psychosocial stress and food insecurity," stated Jerica Berge, PhD, a professor of family medicine and community health at the university.
"Findings from these studies will inform the development of interventions to promote health equity in addressing cardiovascular disease risk in children that will be implemented in primary care settings to benefit all children and families," she added.