Improving COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups with Rheumatic Diseases
Official title: Improving COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groupswith Rheumatic Diseases
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11371381 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing program tests a multi-modal approach using storytelling videos and trained patient navigators to help Black and Latinx adults with autoimmune rheumatic diseases get recommended COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,230,473 |
| NIH project number | 4R01MD019235-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371381 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 and older with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, who are Black or Latinx, receiving care at participating rheumatology clinics.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without AIRDs or those outside the targeted geographic regions may not benefit from this specific program.
What this research studies
This project partners with communities to create relatable stories from vaccinated patients with AIRDs and uses trained navigators to guide individuals through vaccine guidelines and logistics. It will be tested in a randomized trial across rheumatology clinics in the Southern and Northeastern United States. If successful, the approach could increase vaccination completion and booster uptake among Black and Latinx adults with AIRDs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could lead to higher vaccination rates and better protection against COVID-19 for people with AIRDs.
How similar studies have gone: Prior community-engaged interventions with storytelling and navigation have shown promise in improving vaccine uptake in diverse populations, but results vary by disease group and setting.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Danila, Maria Ioana — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Danila, Maria Ioana
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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.