RADX-UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS

Reducing disparities for vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

Coming soon...

Background

NIH is developing community-engaged projects across the United States to assess and expand COVID-19 testing for these underserved and/or vulnerable populations, which include health disparity populations, particularly African Americans and American Indians/Alaska Natives; those in nursing homes, jails, rural areas, or underserved urban areas; pregnant women; and the homeless.

Specific activities include:

• Establishing multiple clinical research sites across the country to evaluate, in real-time, a variety of testing methods in specific populations, areas, and settings

• Encouraging collaboration between the program sites and the community — tribal health centers, houses of worship, homeless shelters, and prison systems — to identify and address their unique needs

Problem

Certain populations have faced disproportionate adversities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to dig deep to understand this problem space and then devise solutions to mitigate this problem.

Project Goals

Understand the factors associated with disparities in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality and to lay the foundation to reduce disparities for those underserved and vulnerable populations who are disproportionately affected by, have the highest infection rates of, and/or are most at risk for complications or poor outcomes from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Budget: $500 Million