Community-Based Health Equity Initiatives
Project CHANGE
Lupus affects people differently, so it’s crucial that all clinical trials investigating potential treatments are representative of the incredibly diverse lupus community. However, people of color – who are two to three times more likely to have lupus and face more severe disease than Caucasians – are vastly underrepresented in clinical research today.
We’re tackling this disparity head-on through Project CHANGE (Community-based Health Action Network to Generate trial participation and Eliminate disparities), our groundbreaking approach to ensuring that any new treatments are developed, tested, and ultimately used by the patients who need them most.
Centering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity in Clinical Research
Project CHANGE provides people of color, particularly African Americans, with the education and tools they need to be well represented in lupus clinical research, make empowered decisions about research, and receive the best possible support and care when they do choose to participate.
We’re bringing together cross-sector stakeholders – from healthcare providers, advocacy groups, and women’s health organizations to local community leaders — to co-create solutions to undoing the barriers contributing to this detrimental lack of diversity in lupus clinical research.
Our Approach
The three-year program is being implemented in the following major phases from formation through evaluation and reporting.
Select Local Communities
We are establishing a steering committee to select communities to pilot the project as a Lupus Research Collaborative (LRC), which will work with all stakeholders to tailor a specific Action Plan that fits each of their community’s particular needs.
Implement Action Plans
Lupus Therapeutics will fund and provide ongoing assistance to each LRC to implement their intentional Action Plan.
Evaluate each program
A unique evaluation plan will be implemented to track, understand, and evaluate the outcomes, challenges, and successes of each LRC so we can learn how to replicate the process in other situations.
Thank you to our generous sponsors who help make Project CHANGE possible.
