# Developing novel strategies to increase COVID-19 testing among underserved and vulnerable populations in West Virginia through community and state partnerships

> **NIH NIH U54** · WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $3,103,241

## Abstract

West Virginia (WV) is rated by Becker’s Hospital Review as the state with the sixth most vulnerable population
to the novel coronavirus (SARS CoV-2) while a second group at Wallethub, using three key domains (medical,
housing, financial), rates WV as the most vulnerable state to SARS CoV-2 impact. Central to the state’s extreme
vulnerability is the high prevalence of obesity, cardiovascular disease including hypertension, chronic lung
disease due to smoking and environmental exposure (e.g., mining), diabetes mellitus, and cancer. Additionally,
WV is among the three states having the highest proportion of persons > age 65 years (20%). Through school
and university closures in March 2020, along with shutdown of non-essential businesses, WV had relatively few
COVID-19 cases and deaths until July 2020 when transmissibility (Rt) skyrocketed. Testing remains problematic
in WV for multiple reasons, including inadequate testing supplies, accessibility to testing sites (given the rurality
of the state and lack of widespread public transportation), shortages of personal protective equipment for staff,
and lack of insurance coverage for surveillance testing and for uninsured persons. The West Virginia Clinical
and Translational Science Institute (WVCTSI) is submitting this application in partnership with multiple
organizations with which they have existing collaborative relationships, including: 1) the WV Practice Based
Research Network (PBRN), a 107 site primary care network spanning the state, 2) the WV Department of Health
and Human Resources, 3) the WV National Guard, 4) West Virginia University (WVU) Health Sciences Center
and College of Engineering, and 5) the Partnership of African American Churches (PAAC). Critically important
is the generous match of $1.5 MM that the state of WV is offering to this initiative should this supplement receive
funding. Vulnerable populations addressed in the application include individuals in rural communities and African
American populations as well as those with comorbidities known to increase risk of severe COVID-19. Given the
high prevalence of substance use disorder (SUD) in WV, a cross-cutting theme is ensuring persons with SUD
are included in all proposed strategies to increase SARS CoV-2 testing. We will address COVID-19 testing
disparities through achievement of the following specific aims, all of which use nucleic acid polymerase chain
reaction testing on nasal or nasopharyngeal swabs: 1) Enhance COVID-19 testing among rural primary care
offices located across WV, 2) Intensify COVID-19 testing through mobile vans in areas forecasted to experience
a near-term increase in COVID-19 incidence, and 3) Increase COVID-19 testing in Black or African American
communities through a dedicated mobile van and home testing. Evaluation of implemented strategies includes
assessing numbers of tests performed, uptake of home testing, satisfaction surveys, and structured interviews
among Black or African Americans enrolled in t...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10233444
- **Project number:** 3U54GM104942-05S3
- **Recipient organization:** WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Sally Lynn Hodder
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $3,103,241
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-09-22 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10233444

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10233444, Developing novel strategies to increase COVID-19 testing among underserved and vulnerable populations in West Virginia through community and state partnerships (3U54GM104942-05S3). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10233444. Licensed CC0.

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