# Bridging Neglect: improved access to high-quality heart health information and care for communities at risk of Chagas disease

> **NIH NIH G08** · BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · 2021 · $145,488

## Abstract

Summary
Chagas disease is a neglected disease that affects around 3,400 individuals in Massachusetts and around
300,000 in the United States. Infection with the Chagas parasite Trypanosoma cruzi can be transmitted
vertically to the child in around 5% of pregnant mothers. Efforts to address Chagas disease are nearly non-
existent in the U.S. Medical professionals and at-risk communities lack awareness of the disease, which
leads to cardiac death in 20-30% of the infected. Latino communities at risk for Chagas disease also have
low health literacy and have experienced less educational outreach regarding other heart health factors
like obesity, diabetes and smoking prevention. We are building on the Strong Hearts project in East Boston,
Massachusetts, that combines community outreach and education with facilitation of screening and referral
for treatment of Chagas disease. Expertise in medical library science, clinical Infectious Disease and
experience in Latino community outreach and education will synergize to optimize outreach using Latino
communities’ favored social media. In-person, print, visual media and web-based knowledge provision will
complement smartphone messaging, leveraging well-established community partnerships. Library
sciences students will gain experience in providing medical information in optimally attractive forms, with
an option of nationwide dissemination.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10145778
- **Project number:** 5G08LM013191-03
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** JULIA R KOEHLER
- **Activity code:** G08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $145,488
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2023-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10145778

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10145778, Bridging Neglect: improved access to high-quality heart health information and care for communities at risk of Chagas disease (5G08LM013191-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10145778. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*