The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute on Aging (NIA) awarded four pilot projects funded through NEXT STEPs (Nursing Home EXplanatory Clinical Trials: Supporting Transformation by Enhancing Partnerships), a national initiative led by Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine to strengthen clinical trials in nursing homes and expand research participation among residents.
“With the NEXT STEPs project, we are building out tools and resources to spur the development of high-quality clinical trials in the nursing home setting,” said Kathleen T. Unroe, M.D., principal investigator of NEXT STEPs, and a research scientist at Regenstrief and IU School of Medicine. “Our pilot grants program is an important part of that effort. We are thrilled to fund these four investigators whose projects focus on a range of critical clinical issues in the nursing home setting of care.”
The inaugural pilot awardees represent institutions across the country and are focused on improving care delivery, symptom management and quality of life for nursing home residents.