The John A. Burns School of Medicine has received $12.6 million in federal funding for research aimed at improving to improve the health of Hawaii residents who suffer from disproportionately higher rates of serious illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, cancer and dementia.

The grant from the National Institutes of Health establishes Hawaii as one of six regions in the U.S. where research will be focused on health disparities among minorities, according to a news release from the medical school.

“Innovative discoveries will be coordinated to target specific health problems. Discoveries will be rapidly transferred into real-life treatment settings where people receive care,” according to the release.

Dr. Jerris Hedges, dean of JABSOM, will be the lead investigator for the project. Hedges said the grant builds on years of research at the medical school by scientists in its Department of Native Hawaiian Health and other departments and centers.