Heart Matters: Working Together to Reduce Heart Disease Risk in Rural African American Communities

Heart Matters: Collaborate and Leverage Evidence in an African American Rural Network to Implement Risk Reduction Strategies for CVD (Heart Matters: Co-Learn to Reduce CVD)

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11135569

This project helps rural African American communities in Eastern North Carolina adopt a proven program to lower their risk for heart disease.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-11135569 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Heart disease is a major concern for rural African American communities in the Southeast, and this project aims to bring a successful program called Heart Matters to more people. We know that Heart Matters has already helped improve blood pressure and healthy habits in a smaller trial. This new effort will work with local organizations to make sure the program is put into practice effectively across five rural counties in Eastern North Carolina. Our goal is to overcome challenges in getting these health programs to the people who need them most, ensuring that evidence-based strategies can truly make a difference in daily life.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are African American adults, 21 years or older, living in rural communities in Eastern North Carolina who are at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Not a fit: Patients who do not reside in the targeted rural African American communities in Eastern North Carolina may not directly benefit from this specific implementation project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease for many individuals in rural African American communities by promoting healthier lifestyles.

How similar studies have performed: The Heart Matters program, adapted from an evidence-based program called PREMIER, has previously shown significant improvements in blood pressure and healthy behaviors in a feasibility trial.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.