Understanding how structural racism affects end-of-life care for children with cancer
Official title: Unpacking Structural Racism in Quality of End-of-Life Care for Children with Cancer
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11025251 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how children with cancer and their families experience end-of-life care, especially how things like racism can affect their access to support, and it aims to find ways to make this difficult time better for families.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $661,845 |
| NIH project number | 1R37CA296615-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11025251 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include families of children aged 0-11 years who are receiving end-of-life care for cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently receiving end-of-life care for cancer or are older than 11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the quality of end-of-life care for children with cancer, focusing on how structural racism influences access to care and the experiences of families. By utilizing a framework that examines variations in palliative care quality, the study will analyze data from a large registry of children diagnosed with cancer. Researchers will gather information through electronic health records and surveys from bereaved parents to identify factors that impact the quality of care provided. The goal is to uncover disparities and improve the overall end-of-life experience for affected families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved end-of-life care practices for children with cancer, ensuring that all families receive high-quality support during a critical time.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in identifying disparities in healthcare access and quality, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Johnston, Emily Elizabeth — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Johnston, Emily Elizabeth
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.