December 2003

Researchers to evaluate the different responses of African Americans & Caucasians to a medication for depression. 120 African Americans and Caucasian adults with depression are needed to participate in a study at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science. This innovative study is exploring ethnic differences in response to a medication for depression.

The study is funded by the NIH/National Institute of Mental Health and will evaluate what factors influence how depressed African American and Caucasian adults respond to the antidepressant medication called Celexa. Celexa is an antidepressant medication known to help improve a person?s mood.

A national conference on Women of Color Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights organized by the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective was held November 13-16 at Spelman College, Women's Research & Resource Center in Atlanta, GA. The conference was organized to bring together women of color activists, providers, policymakers, allies, and men to discuss and develop strategies for improving the reproductive health of women of color in the United States.

This conference was significant because women of color have not come together in a national conference to discuss these issues since 1989. Because of the many social and scientific developments that have taken place, it was urgent that women of color come together to discuss the implications of these issues.