The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has initiated the Communities Advancing Research Equity for Health (CARE for Health) network, a primary care-focused clinical research initiative designed to integrate clinical research with community-based primary care. With an investment of approximately $30 million over fiscal years 2024 and 2025, CARE for Health aims to enhance access to clinical research, particularly for communities historically underrepresented in clinical research or underserved in healthcare.
Inaugural Research Hubs
Three inaugural Research Network Hubs have been selected: Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW), and West Virginia University (WVU). These hubs will engage rural communities and participate in ongoing NIH-funded clinical studies, expanding the reach of these studies by matching them to established rural primary care research networks.
Initial Research Focus
The awardee institutions will participate in three ongoing NIH-funded clinical trials addressing critical primary healthcare topics:
- Chronic Back Pain: OHSU will engage two Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) with eight clinics in rural locations to participate in a study evaluating a behavioral intervention for chronic, high-impact back pain. This study, titled "Nonpharmacologic Pain Management in FQHC Primary Care Clinics," aims to improve pain management and reduce reliance on prescription pain medication.
- Polysubstance Abuse: Both OHSU and UW will engage a total of three FQHCs and eight clinical locations to participate in a study focused on treating polysubstance abuse. The study, "Collaborative Care for Polysubstance Use in Primary Care Settings," is testing a collaborative treatment intervention to address opioid use and polysubstance use, defined as the unhealthy use of more than one drug, or drug(s), with alcohol.
- Gout: WVU will conduct research and engage practitioners and communities at six locations across West Virginia to participate in a study on gout. The "Treat-to-Target Serum Urate Versus Treat-to-Avoid Symptoms in Gout" trial is a randomized-controlled trial evaluating interventions for gout flare prevention or treatment.
Community Engagement and Future Directions
The awardees will engage their rural community partners as part of the initial focus of the CARE for Health pilot. As NIH develops the infrastructure for CARE for Health, future efforts will broaden the focus to additional populations that are underrepresented in clinical research. Initially, the awardees will participate in existing NIH-funded studies and conduct engagement activities to understand and address the critical clinical questions of highest priority to the primary care providers and communities they serve.
"We eagerly anticipate collaborating with our local partners – primary care providers and patient communities – to tackle the health challenges they identify as most pressing," said NIH Director Monica Bertagnolli, M.D. "These awards will lay the groundwork for primary care-focused clinical research, creating opportunities for people to engage in research that matters to them right where they receive their care."
