Improving access to personalized medicine for rural and underserved communities
Official title: Ensuring Equity in Pharmacogenetics for Rural and Underserved Communities
Funded at University of Montana · NIH-10998474 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to make personalized medicine better for people in rural and underserved areas of Montana by understanding how doctors prescribe certain medications and how genetic testing can help improve treatment options for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Montana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Missoula, United States) |
| Project start | November 2, 2024 |
| Project end | October 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $78,954 |
| NIH project number | 1F32HG013895-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10998474 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals living in rural or underserved communities who may benefit from personalized medication approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients living in urban areas or those who already have access to pharmacogenetic testing may not receive significant benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how pharmacogenetics (PGx) can be effectively implemented in rural and underserved communities in Montana. It focuses on understanding the prescribing patterns of PGx medications and the clinical utility of PGx testing among healthcare providers. By conducting surveys and analyzing data, the project aims to identify barriers to access and improve the personalized approach to drug treatment for these populations. The ultimate goal is to ensure that innovations in drug prescribing are equitably available to all communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved medication effectiveness and safety for patients in rural and underserved areas.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that implementing pharmacogenetic testing can improve treatment outcomes, suggesting that this approach may be effective in similar contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Montana
Missoula, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Killam, Shayna Rae — University of Montana
- Study coordinator: Killam, Shayna Rae
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Doula support to improve mood and anxiety health for rural mothers
A rural-focused program tests whether birth doulas can boost confidence, support, and maternal health for new mothers with mood and anxiety concerns.
-
Telehealth exercise program to help rural breast cancer survivors fight fatigue
A telehealth exercise program is being tested to reduce cancer-related fatigue in rural breast cancer survivors.
-
Behavioral cough suppression and capsaicin for refractory chronic cough
A multi-site study will test how a behavioral therapy for stopping cough works alone and with capsaicin to help people with stubborn chronic cough.
-
Rocky Mountain translational hub to bring discoveries to patients
A Montana hub will speed up turning university discoveries into real health tools that help people, especially in remote states.
-
RDCD Core: Design, Compliance, and Data Management for Montana translational research
A dedicated core helps Montana researchers plan ethical, well-designed studies using big health data and EHRs to advance clinical and translational science.
-
Community Engagement and Outreach Core for Montana Health Research
A state-wide effort to support clinicians and researchers in partnering with communities to design and share health research that reflects local needs.
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.