Hampton University plans to open a new research center next year that will focus on skin disorders affecting blacks, Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans and other ethnic groups.

The Skin of Color Research Institute will be located in a 20,000-square-foot research center under construction on campus.

Hampton spokeswoman Sarita Scott says David McDaniel and Valerie Harvey will serve as the institute's co-directors. Both are adjunct faculty members at Hampton.

According to the institute, there is little data on the structural or functional differences in skin disorders that are more common among people with darker skin tones.