# Improving Immunization Rates in Transplant Candidates Through the Use of a Health Information Technology Tool

> **NIH AHRQ K08** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2021 · $148,335

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Vaccine preventable infections (VPIs) are a serious complication following pediatric solid organ transplantation
that lead to significant morbidity, mortality, and costs in transplant recipients. Immunizations are a minimally
invasive and cost-effective approach to reducing VPIs. Despite evidence of the importance of pre-transplant
immunization, the majority of pediatric solid organ transplant recipients are not up-to-date on vaccines at the
time of transplant. The purpose of this project is to identify transplant specific immunization barriers. The
central hypothesis is that a health information technology tool can be created to coordinate vaccine delivery
and address transplant specific immunization barriers, thus increasing immunization rates before transplant,
decreasing VPIs post-transplant, and improving outcomes for transplant recipients. This career development
award is designed to support the transition of Amy Feldman, MD, MSCS, an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
at the University of Colorado, into an independent clinician-scientist and to achieve her long-term career goal
of becoming a national leader in pediatric transplant outcomes research. The specific aims are to: (1) conduct
semi-structured interviews of key stakeholders in pediatric solid organ transplant to identify barriers to
immunization of transplant candidates; (2) adapt an existing immunization health information tool for healthy
children into ImmunizePT, a transplant-specific immunization tool; and (3) use a modified RE-AIM framework
to pilot acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of ImmunizePT to improve immunization rates in solid organ
transplant candidates at three centers nationally. This project, coupled with guidance from a renowned
mentorship team (Dr. Allison Kempe-health services research, Dr. Ronald Sokol-transplant hepatology, Dr.
Megan Morris-qualitative research and Dr. Sheana Bull-health information technology) and advanced training
in qualitative methods, health informatics, and pragmatic trial design and implementation will provide Dr.
Feldman with the foundation needed to successfully develop and implement large-scale multi-center pragmatic
trials to improve transplant outcomes. The University of Colorado provides a unique environment to conduct
outcomes research utilizing health information technology, supported by collaborative partnerships between
The Adult and Child Consortium for Health Outcomes Research and Delivery Science, The University of
Colorado Mobile Health Impact Lab, and the Children’s Hospital Colorado Transplant Center.
This proposal addresses AHRQ’s priority populations of children and individuals with special health care and
chronic care needs; as well as AHRQ’s goals to design tools that disseminate evidence-based protocols within
the learning health system, engage patients and providers in shared decision-making, enhance communication
amongst team members, and improve safety and quality outcomes by reducing m...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10224613
- **Project number:** 5K08HS026510-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Amy Feldman
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** AHRQ
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $148,335
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10224613

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10224613, Improving Immunization Rates in Transplant Candidates Through the Use of a Health Information Technology Tool (5K08HS026510-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10224613. Licensed CC0.

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