Tuesday, April 1, 2025
4/1/2025
West Virginia Rural Roots to Research - West Virginia (WV), the only state enƟrely within Appalachia, has the highest all-cause mortality rate in the naƟon (2022 data), the highest prevalence of diabetes, obesity, and (by far) the highest drug overdose mortality rate. Yet, WV is among the states with the fewest clinical trials and rural residents (consƟtuƟng nearly half the populaƟon) are consistently underrepresented in clinical studies. We seek to change all of this through implementaƟon of our network, West Virginia Rural Roots to Research (WVR3). The West Virginia Clinical and TranslaƟonal Research InsƟtute (WVCTSI), will serve as the WVR3 hub, leveraging past experience as a network hub for clinical trials and our long-standing partnership with the West Virginia PracƟce Based Research Network (WVPBRN). Five clinical trial sites located in rural areas with some of the highest mortality rates in the state have been selected. The overall goal of WVR3 is to expand impactiul clinical trials - those that result in WV primary care pracƟce modificaƟons, changes in health behaviors, and ulƟmately improvement in health outcomes. We will accomplish this goal through the following specific aims. Specific Aim 1. Establish a comprehensive infrastructure that optimizes the efficiency, coordination, and quality of clinical studies. Using implementaƟon science methodology, we will opƟmize clinical trial performance in WVR3 sites through defining clinic workflows, idenƟfying efficiencies, and incorporaƟng feedback to improve trial implementaƟon processes. Strategies to ease burden on sites and study parƟcipants include centralized regulatory support, a mobile clinical trials unit, regionally based research coordinators (“Flex” Coordinators), and use of electronic consent and telemedicine. A site- specific performance dashboard will be established, and a Site Performance Committee will review site performance metrics monthly. Specific Aim 2. Effectively communicate with participating communities – before, during, and after trial implementation. Community forums will be conducted in all WVR3 communiƟes, ensuring that community members have input as to the types of clinical trials that are selected. The community’s perspecƟve will guide community educaƟon and trial messaging. Specific Aim 3. Ensure trial results positively impact primary care practice. Impactiul clinical studies inform clinical pracƟce when effecƟve collaboraƟon and trusted platiorms exist that not only communicate relevant research results to healthcare providers but afford discussion of effecƟve strategies for integraƟng research findings into medical pracƟce. WVR3 will leverage the Community of PracƟce that already exists through WVCTSI Project ECHO, an effecƟve platiorm where primary care providers discuss relevant results, implicaƟons of those results, and share best pracƟces for integraƟng new findings into their clinic, thereby resulƟng in a sustainable learning health system.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).