Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR)’s Post

NIH FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Understanding the Intersection of Social Inequities to Optimize Health and Reduce Health Disparities: The Axes Initiative (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Notice Number: NOT-NR-24-009 Key Dates Release Date: March 20, 2024 Estimated Publication Date of Notice of Funding Opportunity : April 2024 First Estimated Application Due Date: July 2024 Earliest Estimated Award Date: April 01, 2025 Earliest Estimated Start Date: April 01, 2025   Examples of projects that may be supported by the Axes Initiative include, but are not limited to:  --> Comparative studies that examine similarities and differences in pathways and mechanisms of health and health disparity impacts across intersectional statuses. --> Studies that focus on embodiment or biological embedding, i.e., how exposure to various forms of privilege and oppression converge to affect SDOH experienced by people at intersections of social statuses and, in turn, effect underlying biological processes (e.g., epigenome, allostatic load, inflammation, microbiome, neurological signatures). --> Longitudinal and life course studies that examine pathways and mechanisms over time and across generations at intersections of social statuses. --> Studies that examine the multilevel pathways and mechanisms through which concentrated disadvantage impacts health at different intersections of social statuses. --> Studies that examine pathways and mechanisms to explain unexpected positive health outcomes across intersecting social statuses. --> Studies that identify protective factors at multiple levels (e.g., individual, interpersonal, institutional, community, societal) and the ways these protective factors buffer effects of oppression on health disparities. -->Studies that examine the differential impact of policies and laws at the federal, state, and/or local levels at varied axes of privilege and oppression. -->Simulation studies that estimate the impacts of strategies to ameliorate adverse or positive SDOH to reveal pathways or mechanisms of action that effect change at the individual, community, and population levels. 

The Importance of Representation: Black Women in Clinical Trials As professionals dedicated to advancing healthcare, it’s crucial we acknowledge and address the significant underrepresentation of Black women in clinical trials. This disparity not only limits the inclusivity of medical research but also impacts the effectiveness of treatments for diverse populations. 💜Did you know?💜 • Black women represent less than 3% of participants in clinical trials, despite making up approximately 13% of the female population in the United States. • This underrepresentation can lead to a lack of data on how treatments affect Black women, potentially resulting in less effective healthcare outcomes for this group. 💜Why does this matter?💜 • Health Disparities: Black women experience higher rates of certain health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and breast cancer, yet their participation in clinical trials for these diseases remains disproportionately low. • Tailored Treatments: Adequate representation ensures that medical treatments and interventions are effective across all demographics, leading to better health outcomes and more personalized care. 💜Your Role as an Advocate:💜 • Promote Awareness: Educate and inform your networks about the importance of diversity in clinical research. • Encourage Participation: Support initiatives and organizations that strive to increase the participation of Black women in clinical trials. • Advocate for Change: Push for policy changes that require more inclusive practices in medical research. Let’s work together to create a more inclusive and effective healthcare system. Representation in clinical trials is not just a statistical necessity; it’s a moral imperative. #Healthcare #ClinicalTrials #RepresentationMatters #BlackWomenInMedicine #HealthEquity Sources: 1. NIH: Improving Participation of Black Women in Clinical Trials 2. FDA: Diversity in Clinical Trials 3. American Heart Association: Health Disparities in Women

Sociodemographic Disparities in Cancer Treatment Refusal Rates Individuals who did not graduate high school were nearly twice as likely to refuse cancer treatment than other education groups. Cancer mortality is significantly higher in individuals with low education levels compared with those with higher education levels. Racial/ethnic minorities more often refused cancer treatment than white individuals. Low health literacy is associated with individuals who are older, have limited education, are minorities, and have low income. We can do better. Improving patient education for individuals with low health literacy may lead to increased cancer screening and treatment uptake and a reduction in cancer mortality. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit can provide clinicians and patients with resources to improve health literacy and increase access to both medical & nonmedical assistance programs. https://lnkd.in/gmQzwvjK https://lnkd.in/gtUacQN6 #cancer #healthequity #cancertreatment https://lnkd.in/gTqKAsY7

While African Females according to NIH.gov are highest risk for dementia and Alzheimer, what percentage of clinical trials are they in? We need Dementia and Alzheimer legislation prioritize for the 2024 election cycle. Here is clinical trial I reached out from Clinical trial.gov Clinical trial ID# NCT05997030 Title “Early Feasibility Study of Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (LIFU) Neuromodulation in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Due to Alzheimer's Disease” Eligibility Criteria Description Inclusion Criteria: Males and non-pregnant females, aged 45-85 years Able and willing to give informed consent Must meet the clinical criteria for MCI due to Alzheimer's disease Principal Investigator:Ali Rezai,WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute Want to assist, pray you can call 718-237-2211 or email [email protected] for my congressman Hon. Hakeem Jeffries to co-sponsor legislation on dementia and Alzheimer. So you don’t live in NY 8th Congressional District, please call your own congress person to prioritize legislation on dementia and Alzheimer. Alzheimer's Association® Alzheimer's Impact Movement #mentalhealth #dementia #alzheimer #alzheimerscare #clinicaltrial #elections2024 #dementiaawareness #alzheimersawareness #jamaica #RasTafari #Love #Life #Lord #Live

🔍⚕️Imagine a research that truly reflects your community's health needs. 👩⚕️🌐👩⚕️Picture  a network of doctors working together to find better ways to care.  💡 Why is this important? Because many diseases hit certain communities harder, and research often misses these groups. This means treatments might not work as well for everyone. Many communities are missing from research, leading to unequal care. ✨  The good news? The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is creating a network to bring research right to your doctor's office. 📜  Here's how it works: 🔷 Talk to your doctor about research opportunities. They might have studies you can join! 🔷 No more lab rats. Research will happen in real-world settings, just like your regular check-up. ️ 🔷 Everyone is welcome! Especially folks who haven't been included in research before. ❓💭 What it means for you: 🔷 Be part of research that shapes future treatments. 🔷 Help close the gap in healthcare disparities. 🔷 Get access to cutting-edge care, right where you are. Want to learn more? Ask your doctor or check out the NIH website! 

What we have all been waiting for! https://lnkd.in/gc5TzNx5 We are excited to share the FDA’s recently issued draft guidance document, "Diversity Plans to Improve Enrollment of Participants from Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Populations in Clinical Trials." This pivotal document emphasizes the critical need for inclusive clinical research that mirrors the diverse demographics of the intended patient populations. Diverse Research Now (DRN), recognizes the significant role we play in assisting sponsors in the development and implementation of effective diversity plans. The guidance document highlights several measurable goals, notably on pages 13 and 14, where the importance of sustained community engagement is highlighted as a primary strategy for improving enrollment from underrepresented communities. DRN is uniquely positioned to assist in this endeavor. Our organization’s focus on sustained community engagement ensures that we remain dedicated to fostering trust and participation among diverse populations throughout the life of your clinical trials. We believe this approach is key not only to increasing enrollment from underrepresented communities but also to enhancing participant awareness and understanding of clinical studies. Health education is at the core of our mission. We provide resources and support to improve study participants' knowledge, thereby empowering them to make informed decisions about their involvement in clinical research. We appreciate the FDA's commitment to diversity in clinical trials as outlined in this guidance document and are eager to continue our work in inspiring a new era of inclusive research. If you are ready to collaborate with us to meet your diversity goals and ensure the success of your clinical trials, please do not hesitate to reach out @[email protected]. Together, we can achieve a more inclusive and representative clinical research landscape.

From UCLA Health Calling for diversity in clinical trials This month is National Minority Health Month, the perfect time to shine a light on an important issue: equity in clinical trials. UCLA Health researchers engage in more than 1,500 clinical trials at any given time. But patient participation in those clinical trials is still greatly limited, often due to cultural, social and socioeconomic factors, such as: Distrust of researchers Lack of knowledge about the process Logistical challenges, such as lack of transportation and child care Risk and potential negative effects of trials Without participants from underrepresented populations, experts cannot assume that the medical breakthroughs achieved through clinical trials apply to all races and ethnicities. Diversity in clinical trials is critical for improving health equity. To address the lack of diversity in studies, UCLA Health is exploring ways to reach underrepresented populations and engage community leaders. Think about participating in a clinical trial or other medical research if you are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) or other underrepresented groups.

Health communication research is essential to examine the best ways to provide people with accurate, relevant, and usable information for guiding health decision making. It is sad that fear and partisan politics blocked this important new NIH health communication funding stream, but do not give up! There are still many other sources of funding for supporting this vitally important line of research. There are also great opportunities to conduct unfunded, but essential, studies that can make important contributions to advancing knowledge and guiding informed health communication policy! Do not be deterred! https://lnkd.in/e88Xts_Z

Our NIHR Newcastle BRC research themes benefit from patient and public involvement, but so does the wider health and research landscape. In this case study ⬇, our Ageing, Sarcopenia and Multimorbidity theme (ASM) share insights into how to design a public engagement event for an underserved group of older study participants. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d_5iQEAh #BRCresearch #ageing #casestudy #METPREVENT #researchstudy #ppie