The objective of the Social Determinants of Health Measurement (SDH) Core is to support Mid-South TCC’s life-course transdisciplinary research exploring the etiology of chronic diseases and health inequalities across the Mid-South region. The specific aims are:
1) Provide theoretical and methodological expertise to the collaborative research sub-projects, pilot research projects, and other research activities conducted by the Mid-South TCC;
2) Provide research tools, such as data products and measurement tools, to collaborative research sub-projects, pilot research projects, and other research generated by the Mid-South TCC;
3) Generate and maintain a database with important region-specific data related to social determinants of health.

Addressing health disparities in terms of social determinants requires a complex, multidimensional effort that assumes a transdisciplinary approach involving multilevel research designs and complex analyses with a diverse range of measures across several research disciplines. In such a framework, research focused on a single level is misspecified because it underestimates the effects of contexts at other levels. Only by integrating the various contexts in which an individual is embedded we can begin to develop valid models of risk. 

This Core provides:
Methodological expertise (support for current projects, grant submissions, and manuscript development)