A tool to help older adults understand their lab test results
Official title: LabGenie: A Patient-Engagement Tool to Aid Older Adults' Understanding of Lab Test Results
Funded at Florida State University · NIH-11052453 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a friendly online tool called LabGenie to help older adults better understand their lab test results, making it easier for them to take charge of their health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tallahassee, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $134,889 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HS029969-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11052453 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults, particularly those with multiple chronic conditions and limited health literacy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger or have high health literacy and strong technology skills may not receive significant benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing LabGenie, a web-based tool designed to enhance older adults' understanding of their lab test results. By using a user-centered approach, the project aims to create a prototype that visually represents lab results and generates questions to facilitate better engagement in managing their health. The tool addresses the challenges faced by older adults, particularly those with limited health literacy and technology skills, in interpreting complex medical information. Ultimately, LabGenie seeks to empower older patients to take an active role in their healthcare.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve older adults' comprehension of lab results, leading to better health management and outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that patient engagement tools can improve health outcomes, suggesting that this approach has the potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Florida State University
Tallahassee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: He, Zhe — Florida State University
- Study coordinator: He, Zhe
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
LabGenie: A Patient-Friendly Tool to Help Older Adults Understand Lab Results
A patient-facing, web-based tool will present older adults with clear, visual explanations of their lab test results to support understanding and everyday health decisions.
-
Precision HIV Prevention for Youth: Building a Youth Learning Health Community
A youth-focused approach uses data and community engagement to improve HIV prevention interventions in North Florida.
-
Adolescent HIV Care: Weight Loss Pill + Digital Counseling Trial
A youth-focused trial tests whether adding a weekly semaglutide weight-loss medicine to tailored digital lifestyle coaching helps overweight teens and young adults living with HIV improve weight and heart health.
-
Understanding artemisinin resistance in malaria parasites
This project looks at how malaria parasites change RNA-handling proteins to survive artemisinin drugs, aiming to help people treated for Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
-
SMART: a program to help people who use drugs in Atlanta stay on HIV prevention and treatment
A new program aims to help people who use drugs in Atlanta, especially those who are unhoused or unstably housed, stay connected to HIV prevention and treatment and related services.
-
Combined effects of PrEP and HIV stigma on PrEP adherence in youth at risk for HIV
A small, patient-friendly study will explore how stigma around PrEP and HIV affects whether at-risk youth stick with PrEP, using real data from teens and young adults.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.