The 2-year grant is named TIMELY – Training to Increase Minority Enrollment in Lupus Clinical Trials with CommunitY Engagement.
TIMELY is an American College of Rheumatology (ACR) program funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (OMH).
Lupus is more common in African American and Hispanic populations, and these patients may experience more severe adverse effects, such as organ damage, as well as higher mortality rates. Unfortunately, these patients are underrepresented in lupus clinical trials, a problem that the ACR wishes to change. The combined intervention will address both provider- and patient-reported barriers to lupus clinical trial participation. Dr. Sheikh has a track record of success, also co-leading the ACR’s Materials to Increase Minority Involvement in Clinical Trials (MIMICT) project that was funded by OMH.
“We define success for these programs as a dynamic state influenced by how well we design and deliver information that matches patients’ abilities, needs and preferences,” said Dr. Saira Sheikh.
Dr. Donna Culton (UNC Dermatology) is serving on the Advisory Committee for this project, and Dr. Tessa Englund on the Sheikh Research Team is the project manager.
You can learn more by viewing the official ACR press release for this project https://www.rheumatology.org/About-Us/Newsroom/Press-Releases/ID/1203