Community-based effort to boost physical activity in older African American adults through church programs
Official title: The USC PRC: Community-Based Participatory Research to Study Church Implementation of an Evidence-Based Social Support Intervention to Increase Physical Activity among Older African American Adults
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11422015 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community-driven project in churches aims to help older African American adults become more physically active using a proven program and local partnerships.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,000,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U48DP006780-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11422015 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older African American adults who participate through church-based activities and community programs.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not engaged with participating churches or who are unable to engage in physical activity could see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project partners with churches and community groups to adapt and spread an evidence-based physical activity program for older African American adults. It uses community-based participatory research to involve residents, church leaders, and partners in planning, implementing, and evaluating the intervention. The effort includes building local research capacity, keeping stakeholders informed, and studying how best to implement and sustain the program in real-world settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could increase physical activity among older adults in Black communities and improve chronic disease outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Past community-partnered programs have shown promise in increasing activity through social networks and churches; success may vary by setting.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wilcox, Sara — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Wilcox, Sara
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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.