LabGenie: A Patient-Friendly Tool to Help Older Adults Understand Lab Results
Official title: LabGenie: A Patient-Engagement Tool to Aid Older Adults' Understanding of Lab Test Results
Funded at Florida State University · NIH-11577610 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing, web-based tool will present older adults with clear, visual explanations of their lab test results to support understanding and everyday health decisions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tallahassee, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $295,823 |
| NIH project number | 4R33HS029969-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11577610 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (typically 65+) with multiple chronic conditions who regularly receive lab tests and use patient portals.
✕Less likely to help
Patients unlikely to benefit are those without access to the internet or who do not use patient portals.
What this research studies
This project will create LabGenie, a web app designed for older adults with multiple chronic conditions to help them read and interpret lab results. It uses a user-centered design process to ensure the visuals and language match older patients’ needs and health literacy levels. The prototype will be tested for usability and comprehension, with feedback used to refine how results are displayed and how patients can act on them with their providers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, LabGenie could make lab results easier to understand, supporting better medication adherence and timely follow-up actions.
How similar studies have gone: Past studies show patient-facing tools can improve understanding and engagement, though this specific LabGenie approach for older adults is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Florida State University
Tallahassee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: He, Zhe — Florida State University
- Study coordinator: He, Zhe
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.