# Dissemination Core - The Center for Innovation in Point-of-Care Technologies for HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University (C-THAN)

> **NIH NIH U54** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $262,358

## Abstract

SUMMARY - DISSEMINATION (DIS) CORE
The Center for Innovation in Point-of-Care Technologies for HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases at
Northwestern (C-THAN)'s Dissemination (Dis) Core leverages over 16 years of teaching and expertise in
conducting needs assessments for Point-of-Care (POC) and home-based technologies from the Northwestern
University Kellogg School of Management (Kellogg). Since 2006, our proposed Dis Core team has trained over
400 MBA students who conducted POC and home-based technology needs assessments in the following 18
countries: Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, China, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria,
South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. We have conducted these
needs assessments for a variety of product developers, including Northwestern University, Abbott Diagnostics,
Alere, Becton Dickinson, Quidel Corporation, Minute Molecular, FIND, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,
and the Northwestern Global Health Foundation. During the first five years of C-THAN, we conducted needs
assessments for 10 of our 26 innovators (38%), 4 (40%) with innovators from countries in Africa. These needs
assessments covered a variety of conditions including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, cervical
cancer, human papillomavirus, and liver cancer. On behalf of our innovators, we conducted over 120
interviews with clinicians and stakeholders defining the broader needs for diagnostics within these conditions
as well as specific needs for sample collection and/or sample processing. We also obtained user feedback on
innovation concepts and user steps for our innovator's sample collection innovations, POC diagnostic devices,
and digital health accessories. The findings from these needs assessments not only help our innovators course
correct product design and target specifications, but also allowed our broader C-THAN team to refine our
annual solicitations. The C-THAN Dis Core will continue to train and/or conduct needs assessments for POC
and home-based technology product developers and refine our annual solicitations based upon needs
identified. The Dis Core specific aims are: 1. Facilitate and enhance interdisciplinary training on the
development, evaluation, implementation, and commercialization of POC and home-based technologies for
HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2. Conduct needs assessments for POC and home-based
technologies for HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases. 3. Disseminate the results of clinical needs and
user assessment and impact analysis to relevant stakeholders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10762202
- **Project number:** 2U54EB027049-06
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Kara Palamountain
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $262,358
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2018-09-11 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10762202

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10762202, Dissemination Core - The Center for Innovation in Point-of-Care Technologies for HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University (C-THAN) (2U54EB027049-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10762202. Licensed CC0.

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