# Creating tools to enhance PD care and research participation of Hispanic-Latino community

> **NIH NIH U54** · CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK · 2024 · $395,764

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 Parkinson’s disease (PD), a progressive and complex neurodegenerative disorder, manifests with motor
and non-motor symptoms that, only partially and for a limited time, can respond to adequate therapy. Despite
the similar incidence of PD, disease management of Hispanic patients with PD is poorer than that of white non-
Hispanics, and their participation in clinical trials does not reflect expected values (well below 5% versus
expected values around 20%). Together with other evidence, these observations are an expression of
healthcare disparity for Hispanic patients with PD and suggest an underutilization of proper healthcare, socio-
economic disadvantage, stigma, and cultural differences. Moreover, the scant Hispanic participation in clinical
trials further reinforces the vicious cycle of inadequate care. The primary goal of this proposal is to understand
the reasons, including the stigma and cultural differences, that foster this healthcare disparity and to develop
strategies to remove some of these barriers in the Hispanic community of the New York City area (around 25%
of the population). We will employ programs promoting outreach, awareness, and education and enhance
participation in research studies to reach these goals. This work will be performed collaborativelly with the
Parkinson’s Foundation, which, has been working to increase PD awareness in Hispanic communities. The
plan's first step involves the selection, training, and monitoring of local health educators (promotores de salud)
and community stakeholders who are part of the NYC Hispanic communities. Together with the promotores de
salud and in conjunction with other “passive recruitment” instruments (i.e., newsletters, social media, PD-
related websites), we will then provide PD education to Hispanic communities in NYC (Aim 1). To verify the
feasibility and efficacy of this strategy, we also propose prospective studies in which PD Hispanic patients will
be recruited to demonstrate, based on recent evidence, that exercise and multidisciplinary care significantly
improve the life quality of patients and caregivers. Here, we will assess the feasibility, adherence, and retention
of Hispanic patients with PD in a study determining the effects of a two-week inpatient rehabilitation program
immediately after this program and six months later (Aim 2). We will use a similar approach for an outpatient
program study for Hispanic patients with PD (Aim 3). Importantly, for both Aims 2 and 3, we will monitor
patients’ participation and gather feedback during and after these prospective studies to enhance Hispanic
engagement in research. In summary, the proposed studies will develop outreach models and sustainable
partnerships with community-based organizations to promote research efforts and disseminate research
findings in the Hispanic community. These models can be used as infrastructure for future clinical studies,
education, and implementation of better clinical care for the Hispani...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11002163
- **Project number:** 1U54MD017979-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK
- **Principal Investigator:** M. Felice Marina GHILARDI
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $395,764
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-23 → 2029-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11002163

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11002163, Creating tools to enhance PD care and research participation of Hispanic-Latino community (1U54MD017979-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11002163. Licensed CC0.

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