Improving COVID-19 testing experiences in underserved communities
Official title: CO-CREATE-Ex: Community-engaged Optimization of COVID-19 Rapid Evaluation And TEsting Experiences
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-10845417 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about making COVID-19 testing easier and more accessible for Latino residents in San Diego, especially in areas hit hard by the pandemic, by providing training and tools for self-testing to help improve their health care experience.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | November 1, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $1,013,772 |
| NIH project number | 3U01MD018308-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10845417 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Latino residents of San Diego, particularly those living in central and southern communities near the US/Mexico border.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not reside in the targeted communities or who are not affected by COVID-19 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing COVID-19 testing experiences for Latino residents in San Diego, particularly in areas heavily impacted by the pandemic. By partnering with local health centers and community organizations, the project aims to implement and evaluate a rapid antigen testing program that empowers individuals to self-test. Participants will receive training and access to health information technology to facilitate their testing and subsequent healthcare needs. The initiative seeks to reduce health disparities and improve access to preventive care in underserved communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and accessible COVID-19 testing solutions for underserved populations.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in community-engaged approaches to health interventions, particularly in addressing health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Laurent, Louise Chang — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Laurent, Louise Chang
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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.