Music-powered tools to boost blood pressure and stroke prevention for Nigerian youth and their older caregivers
Official title: Innovative Tools to Expand Music-Inspired Strategies for Blood Pressure and Stroke Prevention (I-TEST BP/Stroke)
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11627865 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses popular music to help Nigerian youths and their older family members start and stick to blood pressure and stroke prevention habits.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 29, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $78,750 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HL168766-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11627865 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Nigerian youths around adolescence through young adulthood and their older adult caregivers (parents, grandparents) who are willing to engage in community-driven, music-based health campaigns.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not interested in community-based, music-driven health approaches or not residing in Nigeria may receive little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project partners with youth and their older adult caregivers in Nigeria to introduce proven blood pressure and stroke prevention strategies through engaging music-based campaigns. It will gather community ideas through crowdsourcing and then train local musicians and public health workers to create culturally relevant, music-inspired interventions. The approach emphasizes non-invasive, accessible activities and community involvement to increase awareness, adoption, and sustained practice of healthy behaviors related to BP and stroke risk. The study leverages Nigeria's Afrobeats culture to spread messages and mobilize families toward healthier lifestyles.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, communities could experience increased use of evidence-based BP and stroke prevention practices and stronger connections between younger and older generations around health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous uses of music and community engagement have shown promise in improving health behaviors, supporting the potential of this approach, though the exact strategy is novel for BP/stroke prevention in this context.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Iwelunmor, Juliet — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Iwelunmor, Juliet
Related research
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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.