April Carson

April Carson is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health. She maintains multiple concurrent appointments at UAB including as a Scientist in the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and the UAB Center for Study of Community Health. Her research focuses on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and health disparities with particular emphasis on racial and geographic differences in disease outcomes.

• Doctor of Philosophy, Epidemiology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2006)
• Master of Science in Public Health, Epidemiology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2001)
• Bachelor of Science in Microbiology/General from University of Georgia (1999)

Dr. Carson's research spans multiple domains of epidemiology with particular focus on cardiovascular health disparities, diabetes epidemiology, and genetic determinants of chronic disease. Her work often examines racial differences in disease outcomes and incorporates social determinants of health into risk prediction models. She has made significant contributions to understanding how genetic factors interact with environmental exposures to influence cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk, with particular attention to populations of African ancestry. Her methodological expertise includes analysis of large cohort studies, genetic epidemiology, and development of risk prediction models.

Analysis of Dr. Carson's recent publications (2024-2025) reveals a strong focus on integrating multi-omics approaches with traditional epidemiology to understand cardiovascular and metabolic disease mechanisms. Her work frequently utilizes data from large cohort studies including REGARDS, CARDIA, and TOPMed. A notable trend is her increasing focus on incorporating social determinants of health into traditional clinical risk prediction models, particularly for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Her research also demonstrates sophisticated methodological approaches including epigenome-wide association studies, rare variant analysis, and machine learning applications in epidemiology.

• UAB Healthcare Leadership Academy (2017)
• Finalist, President's Award for Excellence in Teaching (2015)

Dr. Carson has served on numerous dissertation committees and advised graduate students in epidemiology. Her extensive grant portfolio demonstrates significant research funding from multiple sources including NIH, American Heart Association, and AMGEN. Her grants primarily focus on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and health disparities research, often examining racial differences in disease outcomes. She has been involved in major longitudinal studies including the REGARDS study, CARDIA study, and Jackson Heart Study. Dr. Carson also participates in several collaborative research centers including the UAB Diabetes Research Center and the Comprehensive Diabetes Center.

Dr. Carson is actively involved in multiple research teams and collaborative networks including the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program, the REGARDS study, and the Jackson Heart Study. She serves on various committees related to cardiovascular research and health disparities, including committees with the American Heart Association. Her collaborative network extends across multiple institutions, reflecting her role in large multi-center studies examining cardiovascular disease and diabetes in diverse populations.