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-10845411 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping low-income Asian Americans who have trouble with English get easier access to COVID-19 self-tests, so they can take charge of their health with support from their community.
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) | $1,116,272 |
| NIH project number | 3U01MD018320-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10845411 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are low-income Asian Americans with limited English proficiency who are hesitant or unable to access traditional COVID-19 testing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not part of the Asian American community 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 with limited English proficiency, who face significant barriers to traditional testing methods. The project will engage community members to develop and implement culturally appropriate strategies that facilitate the use of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests. By addressing issues such as discrimination, lack of information, and access to testing sites, the research seeks to empower these communities to take charge of their health. The approach includes collaboration with local organizations to ensure that the interventions are tailored to the specific needs of the population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase COVID-19 testing rates among underserved Asian American communities, leading to better health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown success in increasing self-testing in communities with access barriers, indicating that this approach has potential.
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.
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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.