Wednesday, January 15, 2025 1/15/2025

Toward equity in vision health: Using implementation science to adapt a targeted transportation intervention for patients with diabetic retinopathy (PRONTO-EYE)

Award Number: K23EY034602
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common cause of preventable vision loss in the U.S. and disproportionately affects minorities and people with limited socioeconomic resources. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can prevent visual impairment by up to 90%, making adherence to visits critical. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) is a validated measure which has demonstrated the effects of neighborhood-level vulnerability on individual patient access and outcomes. Increased neighborhood-level social vulnerability, measured using SVI, is associated with increased risk of missed ophthalmology appointments. As SVI is being integrated into electronic health records, there is now an opportunity to systematically identify individuals with high neighborhood SVI who are at increased risk of missed appointments and subsequent vision loss. Dr. Scanzera previously identified transportation to and from visits to be among the most consistent markers of social vulnerability that contributes to missed appointments in patients residing in neighborhoods with high social vulnerability. The purpose of Dr. Scanzera’s K23 research plan is to design, implement, and evaluate a ride-share transportation intervention adapted from her health system’s existing PROgram for Non-emergency TranspOrtation (PRONTO) to mitigate barriers to adhering to scheduled ophthalmology visits in patients with DR coming from neighborhoods with high social vulnerability. She plans to integrate implementation science and human-centered design research strategies to (1) Co-Design and (2) Pilot test PRONTO-EYE, which she hypothesizes will be successfully integrated into the existing healthcare system and will improve adherence to ophthalmology visits in this population. Dr. Scanzera’s long-term career goal is to develop and implement evidence-based interventions to reduce preventable blindness in underserved areas in the U.S. The K23 Career Development Award will provide her the mentored research as well as didactic and experiential training to become an independent investigator using implementation science to work toward eliminating disparities in eye health. She will have access to considerable resources through the University of Illinois Chicago, including mentors with expertise that each complement her research proposal and career development. This K23 proposal directly aligns with the National Institutes of Health commitment to ending structural racism by 1) improving minority health and reducing health disparities, and 2) removing barriers to advancing health disparities research. Additionally, the National Eye Institute’s 2021 Strategic Plan includes public health & disparities research as an area of emphasis. By developing an intervention for patients with diabetic retinopathy residing in neighborhoods with high social vulnerability, Dr. Scanzera’s research plan has the potential to improve access to eye care and eye health outcomes in the underserved. The immediate deliverable will be a transportation intervention to improve adherence to ophthalmology visits in patients with diabetic retinopathy residing in neighborhoods with high social vulnerability which will be evaluated in a subsequent larger trial as part of an R01.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $188,888 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS	809 S MARSHFIELD AVE M/C 551	CHICAGO	IL	60612	COOK	USA	Vision Research	000	1	1/10/2024	NEW	$188,888
														Subtotal = $188,888

Grand Total All Awards = $188,888

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Toward equity in vision health: Using implementation science to adapt a targeted transportation intervention for patients with diabetic retinopathy (PRONTO-EYE)

Award Number: K23EY034602

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

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