Cells to Society:
Center for Social Disparities
and Health
Introductory Conference
C2S
Cells to Society
Institute for Policy Research (IPR)
Northwestern University
June 6, 2005
C2S Mission at IPR
• Bring together social and life
scientists to understand the
origins, consequences, and policy
solutions for social and health
inequalities in the US
• Explore how social, ethnic, and
economic disparities “get under
the skin” and affect human
development, well-being, and
longevity
Mission of Institute for Policy Research (IPR)
• Stimulate and support
excellent multidisciplinary
social science research on
significant public policy
issues
• Disseminate the findings
widely – to scholars,
policymakers, educators,
service providers, and the
public at large
Goals of Introductory Conference
• Engage social, life, and
biomedical scientist across
Northwestern around the
themes of the C2S mission
• Explore possible collaborations
• Discuss ways in which C2S
can develop
C2S Executive Committee at IPR
P. Lindsay Chase-Lansdale, Ph.D., Director of C2S,
Program in Human Development & Social Policy (HDSP),
School of Education & Social Policy (SESP)
Emma K. Adam, Program in HDSP, SESP
Thomas Cook, Department of Sociology
Greg J. Duncan, Program in HDSP, SESP
Christopher Kuzawa, Department of Anthropology
Thomas McDade, Department of Anthropology
Dorothy Roberts, School of Law
Whitney Perkins Witt, Feinberg School of Medicine
Research Programs of C2S
• Social Disparities, Stress, and
Health
• Developmental Perspectives on
Health Disparities from
Conception through Adulthood
• Families, Relationships, and
Health
• Genes, Biology, and Society
Cross-Cutting Themes in C2S
• Race
• Social Inequality
• Culture
• Gender
• Ethics
• Implications for Policy and
Practice
Mortality Rate by SES
11
10.8
10.6
10.4
10.2
10
9.8
9.6
9.4
9.2
9
8.8
8.6
8.4
8.2
8
7.8
7.6
7.4
7.2
7
6.8
6.6
6.4
6.2
6
5.8
5.6
5.4
5.2
5
4.8
4.6
4.4
4.2
4
3.8
3.6
3.4
3.2
3
2.8
2.6
2.4
2.2
2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
a
b
g
h
highest
lowest
Socioeconomic Status
Source: Adler et al., 1994
Morbidity Rate by SES
11
10.8
10.6
10.4
10.2
10
9.8
9.6
9.4
9.2
9
8.8
8.6
8.4
8.2
8
7.8
7.6
7.4
7.2
7
6.8
6.6
6.4
6.2
6
5.8
5.6
5.4
5.2
5
4.8
4.6
4.4
4.2
4
3.8
3.6
3.4
3.2
3
2.8
2.6
2.4
2.2
2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
a
b
c
d
highest
lowest
Socioeconomic Status
Source: Adler et al., 1994
Developmental Perspectives on Health Disparities
from Conception through Adulthood
• Early environment
(Prenatal, perinatal)
• Current environment
• Genetic factors
Families, Relationships, and Health
• Inclusion in social groups
• Successful negotiation of
personal relationships
• Caregiving
• Family decision-making
regarding health
• Biomarkers
Genes, Biology, and Health
• Molecular genetics
• Behavioral genetics
• Twin designs
• Biological programming or
organizational set-up
Implications for Policy and Practice
• Extraordinary period of
science
• Harness designs that are both
environmentally and
biologically informed
• More precise and cutting edge
knowledge to inform
interventions and policy
Future Directions for C2S
• IPR has contributed seed funding
• 2005: Biomarkers workshop with
University of Chicago
• 2006: First annual Northwestern
Summer Institute on Biomarkers
• 2005-06: Senior Faculty Search,
joint with IPR and WCAS
• 2005-2006: Grant Applications to
NIH and private foundations