WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Nov. 20, 2025 — Wake Forest University School of Medicine has been awarded a 10-year, $49.5 million contract from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, to serve as the coordinating center for the Jackson Heart Study.
Led by Leann Long, Ph.D., associate professor of biostatistics and data science at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the coordinating center will oversee new data collection while maximizing the use of previously gathered data and biological samples to address critical questions about heart, lung, blood and sleep health across the lifespan.
Key goals of the Jackson Heart Study include:
- Investigating aging-related conditions such as heart failure, ventricular dysfunction and cognitive decline
- Identifying early-life risk factors in young adults, including health behaviors, epigenetics and subclinical disease markers.
As director of the coordinating center, Long will lead a team of researchers from the Division of Public Health Sciences at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Clemontina Davenport, Ph.D., assistant professor of biostatistics and data science, will serve as the deputy director.
“This award represents a tremendous opportunity to build on the legacy of the Jackson Heart Study and deepen our understanding of cardiovascular disease,” said Long. “We are honored to lead this next phase and work collaboratively with our partners to advance science and improve health outcomes.”
Since its inception in 2000, the Jackson Heart Study has enrolled over 5,300 participants from the Jackson, Mississippi, metropolitan area. The study has conducted four in-person exams and annual follow-ups, collecting extensive data on clinical risk factors, imaging, physical function, neurocognition and COVID-19 infection. Biological samples have been stored and assayed for genetic and molecular research.
The Jackson Heart Study has resulted in nearly 1,000 peer-reviewed publications to date, covering topics from genomics and environmental exposures to behavioral health and community engagement. Researchers have uncovered critical insights into heart health that have led to recent updates to heart disease risk calculators that are used in clinical practice. It has also identified early warning signs, such as lifestyle habits and genetic changes, that can predict future heart disease, helping shift the focus toward prevention.
Wake Forest University School of Medicine joins a consortium of centers participating in the Jackson Heart Study, including the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi; Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi; Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi; the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; and the G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center which has six locations in central Mississippi.
A key component of the study is its strong community focus, supported by training and education centers at Tougaloo College, Jackson State University and the University of Southern Mississippi, which will help students prepare for careers in biomedical research. Additionally, the community engagement center at G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center will provide health education and screenings directly to Mississippi residents and evaluate the reach and implementation of health programs in local communities.
In its role as coordinating center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine will support the field center led by the University of Mississippi Medical Center to continue follow-up of the original cohort and launch a new young adult cohort. It will also facilitate ancillary studies, integrate external research efforts and ensure appropriate data sharing through NIH-approved processes that protect participant confidentiality.
“The Jackson Heart Study has long stood as a beacon of scientific excellence and community partnership. As we join this collaboration as the coordinating center, we remain deeply committed to honoring that legacy — ensuring the highest quality data and fostering research that advances heart health knowledge for generations to come,” Long said.