Modernized family health history tool for African Americans
Official title: Modernized Culturally Sensitive Family Medical History Tool
Funded at Rush River Research Corporation · NIH-11419724 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new AI-based software tool will help African American individuals learn and share their family health history to support personalized prevention for conditions like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush River Research Corporation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ellsworth, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $991,050 |
| NIH project number | 5R44MD018239-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419724 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who identify as African American and are seeking to understand and act on their family health history.
✕Less likely to help
People without a family history of the targeted conditions or those not using digital health tools may see minimal benefit.
What this research studies
This project will create a culturally sensitive digital tool that guides users through collecting family health histories in a way that respects African American family dynamics and language. It involves ongoing community engagement, software development, and partnerships with healthcare and industry to ensure the tool is usable and meaningful. The goal is to enable earlier prevention, tailored screenings, and better access to genetic counseling and other diagnostic options based on family history.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could lead to earlier detection and prevention of common illnesses in African American communities by clarifying family risk and encouraging proactive health steps.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that culturally tailored family history collection can improve awareness and resulting preventive actions, though this specific tool is novel in its cultural customization.
Where this research is happening
-
Rush River Research Corporation
Ellsworth, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lundstrom, Julie — Rush River Research Corporation
- Study coordinator: Lundstrom, Julie
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.