Helping African American churches promote better health.
Official title: Engaging Partners in Caring Communities (EPICC): Building capacity to implement health promotion programs in African American churches
Funded at Tennessee State University · NIH-11085268 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to improve health in African American communities by helping local churches create and run health programs that fit their needs, using a special app and website for support along the way.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tennessee State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $605,619 |
| NIH project number | 5U01MD019397-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085268 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are African American individuals and families who are members of participating churches and are affected by chronic health conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not part of the participating churches or who do not identify as African American may not receive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This project aims to reduce health disparities in African American communities by implementing health promotion programs in local churches. It involves forming teams within 30 participating churches to select and deliver evidence-based health programs tailored to their needs. The teams will utilize a specially designed app and website to assess their capacity and receive technical assistance throughout the process. By fostering collaboration between academic researchers and community members, the project seeks to enhance the effectiveness of health initiatives in these congregations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes and reduced chronic disease rates in African American communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in community-based health interventions within faith-based organizations, indicating a promising approach for this project.
Where this research is happening
-
Tennessee State University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Selove, Rebecca — Tennessee State University
- Study coordinator: Selove, Rebecca
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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.