Connecting the Dots Between Clinical Trials & Trusted Community Voices to Promote Research Participation and Optimal Treatment of Black Individuals Living with Lupus - The National Minority Quality Forum, Inc. (NMQF) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research and advocacy organization based in Washington, DC which was founded in 1998 to address the critical need for strengthening national and local efforts to use evidence-based, data-driven initiatives to guide programs to eliminate the disproportionate burden of premature death and preventable illness for racial and ethnic minorities and other special populations. The project, “Connecting the Dots Between Clinical Trials & Trusted Community Voices to Promote Research Participation and Optimal Treatment of Black Individuals Living with Lupus,” seeks to promote health equity by identifying gaps in resources and providing lupus education, training, and support to improve care for Black populations. NMQF proposes to implement a three-pronged approach to increase minority participation in Lupus clinical trials in the Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia region. The first is to provide community clinician training on conducting Lupus clinical trials through the Alliance of Representative Clinical Trials (ARC) program. The ARC program is organized to diversify and bring clinical trials to communities of color and other communities that have been underrepresented in clinical trials. The second is to provide community engagement utilizing the Faith Health Alliance and HAIR Wellness Warrior programs, working with churches and barber shops and salons in the designated regions to finalize the project design and train them to serve as health educators and community health workers in their communities, with a focus on Lupus education. The third approach is to implement an outreach and social media campaign on lupus clinical trials aimed toward racial and ethnic minority individuals. Goals are listed below: Goal 1: To build the capacity of trusted community leaders in Maryland, Washington DC, and Virgina to educate Black, underserved communities about lupus clinical trials, distribute and promote lupus education and resources, and enhance confidence in treatment services. Goal 2: Demonstration that minority-serving community clinicians can be trained to be principal investigators (PIs) for randomized lupus clinical trials and real-world evidence studies by providing them with the time, financial, and logistic support to become research investigators. Goal 3: To implement an education and awareness campaign in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia to foster heightened awareness and understanding of lupus within Black communities while emphasizing the significance of clinical trials in advancing lupus research and developing treatment options tailored to the specific needs of the intended population. Proposed Outcomes: The project collectively aims to address racial and ethnic health disparities; address the unique needs of Black underserved communities; promote education about lupus and clinical trials; promote health equity; and create sustainable community-based interventions for Black communities, ultimately contributing to the reduction of chronic disease trajectories and improving overall health and well-being as well as empower individuals to take an active role in their health management.
