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Development and pilot feasibility trial of a stigma reduction intervention to improve pain among adults with sickle cell disease

Award Number: K23HL183775
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2031

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Development and pilot feasibility trial of a stigma reduction intervention to improve pain among adults with sickle cell disease - Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section Dr. Lakeya McGill’s proposed K23 Mentored Career Development Award aims to provide critical research, mentorship, and training to support her transition to an independent investigator. Her long-term career goal is to advance high-quality pain care for adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) by developing, testing, and implementing effective psychosocial and multi-level interventions for pain. Pain is the most common complication of SCD, but pain management for this patient population is inadequate, in large part due to unaddressed stigma. SCD is a genetic blood disorder that is characterized by acute and chronic pain that is often treated with opioids. Stigma is a social process that involves stereotyping and discrediting an individual or group. Adults with SCD experience stigma related to having pain and being prescribed opioids. Previous research suggests stigma is a psychosocial mechanism that leads to worse pain outcomes in adults with SCD. “Experienced” stigma (i.e., when someone experiences negative treatment) contributes to “internalized” stigma (i.e., adopting society’s negative views about oneself). Then, internalized stigma leads to worse pain intensity and pain interference. Effective theory-based interventions to reduce stigma have been developed and implemented in other populations. However, this work has been limited among adults with SCD, especially in relation to pain. Thus, there is a critical need to develop, test, and implement theory-based interventions to reduce pain severity and pain interference by lowering internalized stigma. The proposed research project aims to develop and test a patient-facing stigma reduction intervention to improve pain outcomes in SCD. Dr. McGill will engage with a community advisory board comprising individuals with SCD, their families, clinicians, and community-based organizations at all phases of the project. In Aim 1, we will develop a stigma reduction intervention using intervention mapping, a theory-based systematic approach to designing psychosocial interventions. We will interview adults (N=12) with SCD and community organization leaders (N=12) to obtain insights on intervention components and how to maximize implementation potential. In Aim 2, we will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention in a two-arm randomized controlled pilot trial (N=48) comparing the intervention to a waitlist control. We will also conduct interviews post-intervention with participants randomized to the active intervention (N=24) and study interventionists (N=2) to ask questions related to feasibility, acceptability, and implementation barriers and facilitators. The results will serve as preliminary data to support an R01 application to test the intervention’s efficacy. Dr. McGill has assembled an exceptional multidisciplinary mentoring team and career development plan that will provide her with mentorship and training in (a) community-engaged research, (b) psychosocial intervention development, (c) implementation science and multi-level interventions, and (d) randomized controlled trials.


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: 2026 ( Subtotal = $168,351 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Translation and Implementation Science Research for Heart, Lung, Blood Diseases, and Sleep Disorders	001	1	8/27/2026	NEW	$0
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Translation and Implementation Science Research for Heart, Lung, Blood Diseases, and Sleep Disorders	000	1	8/25/2026	NEW	$168,351
														Subtotal = $168,351

Grand Total All Awards = $168,351

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Development and pilot feasibility trial of a stigma reduction intervention to improve pain among adults with sickle cell disease

Award Number: K23HL183775

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2031

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