Increasing COVID-19 self-testing among underserved Asian Americans
Official title: Project IMPROVE: Implementing Community-Engaged Intervention Research to Increase Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Self-Testing Among Diverse Underserved and Vulnerable Asian Americans
Funded at Temple Univ of the Commonwealth · NIH-10616921 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to help low-income Asian Americans, especially those who may not speak English well, get easier access to COVID-19 self-tests so they can safely test at home and stay healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | November 1, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $1,140,263 |
| NIH project number | 1U01MD018320-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10616921 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are low-income Asian Americans living in crowded conditions, particularly those with limited English proficiency.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not Asian American or those who do not face barriers to COVID-19 testing may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to improve access to COVID-19 self-testing for low-income Asian Americans, particularly those with limited English proficiency. It addresses barriers such as discrimination, fear of testing sites, and lack of culturally relevant information. The project will implement community-engaged interventions to promote the use of FDA-approved over-the-counter COVID-19 tests, empowering individuals to test themselves in the comfort of their homes. By focusing on multigenerational households and crowded living conditions, the research seeks to enhance testing rates and ultimately reduce COVID-19 infections in these vulnerable communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase COVID-19 testing rates among underserved Asian Americans, leading to earlier detection and better management of the virus.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown success in implementing self-testing interventions in communities with access barriers, indicating a promising approach for this population.
Where this research is happening
-
Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ma, Grace X. — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Ma, Grace X.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How COVID-19 infection and genes may influence memory and dementia risk
This study looks at how getting COVID-19 and a person’s genes together affect the chance of developing memory problems and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
-
Understanding flu and COVID-19 vaccine responses in people and in the lab
Researchers at Stanford explore how flu and COVID-19 vaccines work in people and in lab tests to improve protection for adults.
-
Oral small molecule inhibitors to block SARS-CoV-2 RNA replication
A Stanford-led project tests a pill that could stop SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses from copying their RNA inside infected cells.
-
Outpatient antiviral cocktails to fight SARS-CoV-2 and future RNA viruses
Researchers at Stanford are developing outpatient antiviral cocktails that could be used easily outside the hospital to treat COVID-19 and future RNA virus infections.
-
Inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 Proteases to Block Viral Replication
A patient-facing program aims to discover and optimize small molecules that block key SARS-CoV-2 enzymes, potentially reducing viral replication.
-
How different COVID-19 vaccines shape immune responses
This project compares immune reactions after mRNA and adenoviral COVID-19 vaccines to learn how long protection lasts and why some people get breakthrough infections or side effects.
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.