The Jackson Heart Study’s Community Outreach Center is hosting the 14th Annual Heart Study Birthday Celebration Saturday at the Jackson Medical Mall.
Festivities, to be held from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Mall’s Thad Cochran Center, will include presentations on diet and stroke prevention and line dancing for elders. Lunch will be provided at this free event.
“Everyone is invited,” said Marty Fortenberry, CORC outreach specialist.
The Jackson Heart Study is the largest study in history to investigate genetic factors that affect heart disease and other illnesses affecting African-Americans in large numbers. Participants were recruited from urban and rural areas of Hinds, Rankin and Madison counties that make up the Jackson metro area.
The study is a collaborative effort between JSU, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Tougaloo College and the National Institutes of Health.
In addition to genetic research, the study provides health-related information to the Jackson community through conferences, workshops, health fairs and seminars.
The Jackson Heart Study joined the College of Public Service in October 2013. The College oversees CORC and the study’s Graduate Training and Education Center (GTEC).
GTEC’s priority is to establish a graduate level training program focusing on cardiovascular epidemiology research.