PREDICT (Precision Medicine, Education, Data Informatics and Community Translation) Institute - Project Summary Abstract
Xavier University of Louisiana seeks support from the NIH National Institute on Minority
Health and Health Disparities to complement the research infrastructure in the College of
Pharmacy through a new initiative. The proposed initiative will establish the Precision
Medicine, Education, Data Informatics, and Community Translation (PREDICT) Institute,
a comprehensive programmatic initiative creating a holistic and replicable framework for
the utilization of electronic health data and community translation to affect the decision-
making process to improve health outcomes. The Institute will extend the technical
research exchange (TREX) program at Xavier to include training of current and future
underrepresented researchers on health informatics best practices to diversify the
research workforce and leverage community-based approaches to enhance clinical
research efforts in vulnerable populations. This request comes at both a challenging and
opportunistic time where an awareness of health disparities was heightened and, in some
instances, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of population health and
bioinformatics data are potential tools useful in collective approaches required to achieve
health equity. The Specific Aims of the PREDICT Institute are:
Specific Aim #1: To enhance the existing Xavier health informatics infrastructure by increasing
capacity for data acquisition, data warehousing, data access, data analytics, and technical
assistance necessary for addressing health outcomes in minority communities.
Specific Aim #2: To strengthen the research and outreach infrastructure of the university to
promote community-engaged translational/clinical research and health promotion to mitigate
health disparities.
Specific Aim #3: To develop a diverse, highly competitive research workforce through the
implementation of training/mentoring programs for students, postdoctoral residents/fellows, and
early-stage/mid-career faculty (PREDICT scholars).
