Making it easier and fairer to take breast cancer and heart medicines
Intervention to iMProve AdherenCe equiTably (IMPACT TRIAL)
A program to help adults with breast cancer and heart disease take their prescribed medicines more reliably, with special attention to fairness for Black, Hispanic, and low-income patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11380512 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited to join a program designed to help people with both breast cancer and heart disease take their medicines more reliably. The intervention is built with input from diverse patients and providers using a human-centered “design with justice” process to address barriers faced by Black, Hispanic, and low-income people. In a pragmatic randomized trial, about 300 participants will be assigned to the multicomponent adherence program or usual care and medication use will be tracked over time. The study will measure whether the program improves adherence to both cancer and cardiovascular medicines and whether it narrows racial and income-related gaps in outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) who have breast cancer and also take medications for cardiovascular disease or related risk factors, especially Black, Hispanic, or lower-income patients who face medication adherence barriers.
Not a fit: People without breast cancer or cardiovascular conditions, those not on relevant medications, or those who already take their medicines reliably may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help patients take medications more consistently, lower hospital visits and deaths linked to missed doses, and reduce racial and income-related gaps in outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: A few complex and costly adherence programs have worked in past studies, but scalable, equity-focused interventions like this are relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hershman, Dawn — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Hershman, Dawn
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 below.