The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation donated a five-year, $3.5-million research grant to the African-American Collaborative Obesity Research Network.
AACORN, based at the School of Medicine, will use the money to conduct community-based research to reduce obesity among black children and adolescents.
"Despite the fact that African-American children have some of the highest rates of obesity, there is not sufficient research to identify causes and effective interventions specific to African-American communities," Shiriki Kumanyika, AACORN founder and Epidemiology professor, said in a press statement.
AACORN is also connected to the Penn-Cheyney Center of Excellence for Inner City Health, an organization that is funded by the National Center for Minority Health.
AACORN's research will concentrate on effective strategies and community action to prevent obesity.
The Network was founded in 2002 with the aim of simplifying and better utilizing scientific research to address widespread, national issues related to obesity.
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