FSU Researchers Join $3.4 Million NIH Study on Physician Bias in Patient Care

Florida State University (FSU) researchers are part of a groundbreaking, multi-institutional team awarded nearly $3.4 million by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate disparities in patient care caused by physician bias under certain adverse conditions. This five-year study aims to understand how situational factors—like a healthcare provider's own illness or fear of getting sick—can influence their interactions with patients, particularly those from minority backgrounds.

Anastasia Makhanova, an FSU psychology alumna and assistant professor at the University of Arkansas, leads the project. The research team includes FSU’s Eric Shattuck (anthropology) and psychology professors Jon Maner and Ashby Plant, along with contributors from the University of Texas at San Antonio, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, University of New Mexico, and Loma Linda University. FSU’s portion of the grant totals $539,479.