# Rhode Island Center for Clinical and Translational Science

> **NIH NIH U54** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $899,640

## Abstract

SUMMARY
 Nationally, Latinx individuals have four times the rate of SARS-CoV-2 diagnoses compared to Non-
Hispanic Whites. Furthermore, Latinx populations may face barriers in accessing SARS-CoV-2 tests, receiving
test results, interpreting test results, and getting appropriate follow-up care. Improved understanding of the
sources of health equity differences for Latinx populations can be used to better guide allocation of resources
and provide essential data for provider organizations seeking to support those in the most need. This RADx-
UP project will establish a statewide research and monitoring infrastructure in partnership with community
clinics. We will develop community health teams (“Promotoras Teams”) with the largest Latinx community
organization in Rhode Island to address identified barriers to COVID-19 testing through patient navigation,
health literacy support, and follow-up care.
 The overall goals of the proposed study are to improve testing uptake and the understanding of SARS-
CoV-2 outcomes among Latinx populations. We will build on partnerships with community clinics that serve a
high proportion of Latinx individuals (>50%) in Rhode Island. We will place particular emphasis on disparities in
care faced by Latinx populations and factors that have been identified as impacting health equity in Rhode
Island (integrated healthcare, community resilience, physical environment, socioeconomics, and community
trauma). The insights gained from the quantitative and qualitative approaches will be used to guide the
implementation of community campaigns to improve testing among Latinx populations that are in identified
locations with lower per capita testing than other parts of the state (“testing deserts”).
 This RADx-UP project will utilize a unique approach and infrastructure to monitor SARS-CoV-2 testing
rates, including the use of the statewide Health Information Exchange (HIE) in Rhode Island that connects data
across primary care, urgent care, specialty care, and acute care clinical environments. The HIE contains
clinical data for most people receiving care in Rhode Island including SARS-CoV-2 test results from major
laboratories and other facilities (e.g., CVS MinuteClinic). These quantitative data will be combined with
qualitative data and organized according to the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research
framework to guide our mixed-methods explanatory sequential design. The specific aims of this project are to:
(1) Identify COVID-19 hotspots and testing deserts using a near-real time geographic information system
monitoring system; (2) Determine community and provider barriers that impact access to SARS-CoV-2 testing;
and, (3) Implement community-based approaches to improve SARS-CoV-2 testing. This RADx-UP project will
develop a community-based infrastructure to enable structured, longitudinal relationships with a historically
underserved patient population. Such insights will provide essential data for a population lev...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10233455
- **Project number:** 3U54GM115677-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Sharon Irene Smith Rounds
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $899,640
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-09-22 → 2021-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10233455

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10233455, Rhode Island Center for Clinical and Translational Science (3U54GM115677-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10233455. Licensed CC0.

---

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