NASHVILLE, Tenn. Velma McBride Murry, PhD recently accepted an invitation to serve as a member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Psychosocial Development, Risk and Prevention Study Section, Center for Scientific Review, for the term beginning July 01, 2016, and ending June 30, 2020.
Members are selected on the basis of their demonstrated competence and achievement in their scientific discipline as evidenced by the quality of research accomplishments, publications in scientific journals, and other significant scientific activities, achievements and honors. Study sections review grant applications submitted to the NIH, make recommendations on these applications to the appropriate NIH national advisory council or board and survey the status of research in their fields of science.
Murry is the Lois Autrey Betts Chair in Education and Human Development, Joe B. Wyatt Distinguished University Professor and Professor of Human and Organizational Development in Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. She has conducted research on African-American parents and youth for over 15 years and identified proximal, malleable protective factors that deter emotional problems and risk engagement in youth. Her work is supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Murry is also the author of over 100 scientific articles, and has served on the National Academy of Medicine Consensus Study Committee on Improving the Health, Safety and Well-Being of Young Adults. She is a member of the National Academies of Medicine, Board of Children Youth and Families, as well as the Healthy Parenting and Primary Care Task Force and the USAID Evidence Review Team for Enhancing Child Survival and Development in Lower and Middle-Income Countries. She chaired the American Psychological Association, Committee on Psychology and AIDS.
Murry has received numerous awards, including 2014 Society for Prevention Research Award for Contributions in Community, Culture and Prevention Science and the 2014 American Psychological Association Presidential Citation, Distinguished Research and Contributions for Children, Youth and HIV/AIDS.
"Service on a study section requires mature judgment and objectivity, as well as the ability to work effectively in a group, qualities we believe Dr. Murry will bring to this important task," Richard Nakamura, PhD, Director of the Center for Scientific Review, stated in a membership letter announcing Murry's appointment.
About the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance
The Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance develops and supports collaborative initiatives and programs in biomedical research and clinical science training. It has assisted in establishing joint and shared residencies in surgery, pediatrics, ophthalmology, orthopedics, urology, cardiology and other medical specialties. Since its founding in 1999, the Alliance has provided opportunities for collaboration between Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and for collaboration with projects in the community. The elimination of health disparities between the majority and minority populations has continued to be a major focus of Alliance projects.
