News release
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
The National Institutes of Health has awarded approximately $ 234 million to improve COVID-19 testing. A part of the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADX) initiative, the RADX Underservice Population (RADX-UP) program will support 32 institutions across the United States and focus on epidemic-affected populations. These groups include African American, American Indian / Alaska Natives, Latino / Latinas, Native Hawaiian, older adults, pregnant women, and those who are homeless or unvaccinated.
NIH Director Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, stated, “It is important that all Americans have access to rapid, accurate diagnosis for COVID-19, particularly ineligible and vulnerable populations who are suffering the brunt of the disease.” “The RADx-UP program will help us understand better and reduce barriers to testing for those most vulnerable and reduce the burden of the disease.”
The aim of the program is to better understand the COVID-19 test pattern between understand and vulnerable populations; Strengthening data on disparities in infection rates, disease progression and outcomes; And to develop strategies to reduce these disparities in COVID-19 testing. To meet these goals in a rapid fashion, the RADx-UP program is supporting projects with established community partnerships that increasingly implement strategies and interventions to expand the reach of the COVID-19 trial among underserved and vulnerable populations To make use of their existing research infrastructures.
The RADx-UP program has three primary components supported by NIH grants to increase availability, accessibility and acceptance of testing among ineligible and vulnerable populations:
- A collaborative clinical research network of existing large-scale programs with sufficient capacity, infrastructure and relationships with untapped communities. These are the first set of awards; The NIH hopes to release a second set of awards later this year, pending the availability of funding for programs with established community engagement components, which will also form part of the collaborative network. Together these programs will develop and implement interventions to increase the reach and growth of COVID-19 testing.
- Research on the social, ethical and behavioral implications of these health disparities to inform the development and evaluation of testing programs. These projects will focus on assessing how ethical, historical, healthcare, social, economic, and contextual factors, as well as cultural beliefs and attitudes, expectations, and preferences affect the ability and willingness to test.
- A coordination and data collection center at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, provides immense support and guidance on administrative operations and logistics, facilitates the effective use of COVID-19 testing technologies, supports community and health system engagement and data Provides overall infrastructure for the collection. Integration and sharing.
Aliso J., director and managing director of the National Institute for Minority Health. “The long-term community engagement established by these researchers and programs provides an essential mechanism for exploring the factors leading to COVID-19 related disparities,” said Perez-Stable. Health related abnormalities. “These existing partnerships will serve as the foundation for rapid implementation of interventions to promote greater health equity.”
In the coming months, the RADx-UP program will be pending additional funding, availability of funds to meet emerging needs of epidemic response, new scientific and / or technological developments such as vaccines, novel medical science and new testing approaches. Will integrate, and expand studies and / or reach populations.
About rapid acceleration of diagnostics (RADx)Sm) Initiative: The RADx initiative was launched on April 29, 2020 to accelerate the development, commercialization and implementation of technology for COVID-19 testing. The initiative has four programs: RADx Tech, RADx Advanced Technology Platform, RADx Underserved Population and RADx Radicals. It leverages the existing NIH point-of-care technology research network. The RADx initiative partners with federal agencies, including the Department of Health, Assistant Department of Defense, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority and the US Food and Drug Administration’s Office of the Assistant Secretary. Learn more about the RADx initiative and its programs: https://www.nih.gov/radx
About National Institutes of Health (NIH):The NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, comprises 27 institutes and centers and is a component of the US Department of Health and Human Services. The NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
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