Improving health equity in Appalachian communities through community engagement
Official title: UK ASCEND (Achieving Success in Community-Engaged research to elimiNate Disparities)
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11138422 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping people in underserved areas of Kentucky, especially in Appalachia, by training local scholars and working together with community members to find better ways to improve health and tackle health challenges.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | July 13, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $125,596 |
| NIH project number | 5P50MD019476-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11138422 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include Black, Hispanic, and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals living in rural Appalachian areas.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not reside in the Appalachian region or who do not belong to the targeted underserved populations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on addressing health disparities in underserved populations, particularly in the Appalachian region of Kentucky. It aims to enhance community-engaged research by training scholars and fostering collaboration with community stakeholders through a Community Advisory Board. The project will implement a training program and pilot initiatives to empower local communities and improve health outcomes. By involving diverse populations, the research seeks to create sustainable solutions to health inequities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes and reduced disparities for underserved populations in Appalachia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous community-engaged research initiatives have shown promise in reducing health disparities, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schoenberg, Nancy E. — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Schoenberg, Nancy E.
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.