ABSTRACT

Health inequities (e.g., poor air and unclean drinking water) are prevalent across the country. Quality data and interdisciplinary tools and techniques are needed to address them. The field of bioinformatics is the intersection of statistics, computer science and biomedical sciences, and bioinformatics can be instrumental in addressing health inequities. Prioritizing quality data and diverse experiences and viewpoints is key in solving complex “wicked” problems related to health inequities. Nnamdi Osakwe shares his personal journey to a career in bioinformatics, and shares his work building a framework for measuring environmental and human health outcomes for disproportionately affected communities.

Nnamdi is a bioinformatics Ph.D. student at NC State whose research focuses on using bioinformatics to study environmental health and improve health equity. Osakwe uses an interdisciplinary approach to understand the relationship between environmental exposures and human health outcomes in populations disproportionately exposed to poor environmental quality.

TRANSCRIPT

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

• Read "What Are Health Disparities and Health Equity? We Need to Be Clear." This article discusses the need for greater clarity about the concepts of health disparities and health equity, proposes definitions, and explains the rationale based on principles from the fields of ethics and human rights.

• Equity is part of NC State's sustainability strategic plan. Read more about NC State's commitment NC State's page on Equity. 

• Learn more about NC State's Bioinformatics Research Center and Center for Human Health and the Environment.

• Visit the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network website.