Improving access to primary care research in the Deep South
Official title: Primary Care HEART-NET in the Deep South
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11118368 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about making it easier for people in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi to get the primary care and support they need to prevent chronic diseases, by working closely with local clinics and communities to improve health services and involve patients in the process.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | January 20, 2025 |
| Project end | January 19, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,334,248 |
| NIH project number | 1OT2OD038381-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11118368 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals living in Alabama, Arkansas, or Mississippi who have limited access to primary care services or are affected by chronic diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients residing outside of the Deep South or those with adequate access to primary care services may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing access to primary care and chronic disease prevention in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi, where health outcomes are among the poorest in the nation. It aims to establish a robust research infrastructure in primary care settings by collaborating with local clinics and communities. The project will integrate research into clinic workflows, involve patients and clinicians in the research process, and utilize innovative technologies to facilitate patient participation. By addressing the barriers to care and research, this initiative seeks to improve health outcomes for underserved populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve access to healthcare and chronic disease management for patients in the Deep South.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in improving healthcare access and outcomes through community-based interventions and integrated care models, suggesting a promising outlook for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Asif, Irfan — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Asif, Irfan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
HEARTS hypertension and diabetes care in Guatemala
This grant tests how well the HEARTS primary care model works in Guatemala to improve blood pressure and blood sugar control for patients.
-
Primary Care HEART-NET: boosting access to research in the Deep South
A collaboration across three universities will build primary care research networks in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi to improve access to care and help prevent and manage chronic diseases.
-
Primary Care Bridge: Building Research in Diverse Geographic Settings
A national network hub in New Mexico will connect rural clinics and communities to faster, more usable primary care research so patients in underserved areas can benefit from new evidence.
-
WREN: Expanding Research Capacity in Rural Primary Care Clinics
A nationwide network in Wisconsin will strengthen rural primary care clinics to participate in real-world research and bring more clinical trials to communities.
-
Primary care research network in Oklahoma to boost rural patient trials
A nationwide NIH-supported effort to strengthen Oklahoma’s primary care research network so doctors can run big clinical trials and real‑world studies in rural communities.
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PRaCTICe: A Rural and Frontier Clinical Trials Innovation Center
A nationwide network is creating easier, community-led clinical trials in rural and frontier areas to bring more trials to patients where they live.
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.