LEAP Initiative to improve language services for patients with limited English proficiency
Official title: The Language and Literacy Engagement and Accountability Performance (LEAP) Initiative: Addressing differences through a paradigm shift in language services operations
Funded at Transcendent International, LLC · NIH-11387443 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at health systems, this project creates new tools and training to improve language access for people with limited English skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Transcendent International, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $874,682 |
| NIH project number | 5R44MD019208-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11387443 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with limited English proficiency who rely on interpreting services or language-concordant care in healthcare settings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients in systems that do not implement the new tools or training may not experience improvements in language access.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on helping health systems better serve patients who do not speak English well by creating a Language Accountability Index, an analytics dashboard, and a formal training program for language access professionals. It addresses gaps in regulation tracking, staff training, and policy communication to ensure equitable care. The work includes developing standards, measuring performance, and offering certification to demonstrate expertise in language access operations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, health systems could provide clearer, more reliable language services, reducing disparities for LEP patients.
How similar studies have gone: This is a novel, standards-driven approach; no widely adopted national benchmark currently exists for language access operations.
Where this research is happening
-
Transcendent International, LLC
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bhattacharya, Dru — Transcendent International, LLC
- Study coordinator: Bhattacharya, Dru
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.