Program Snapshot

Despite tremendous scientific progress that has led to significant breakthroughs in medicine, the United States is experiencing an overall decline in health, in particular in medically underserved and disadvantaged populations. As we enter a new era of technology and information sharing, the United States is well-positioned to integrate research into clinical care and community settings to improve health for patients from all walks of life regardless of race, ethnicity, income, or zip code. 

On June 6, 2024, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the launch of the Communities Advancing Research Equity (CARE) for Health™ initiative, a pilot to test the feasibility of a network of research networks that expands research opportunities to the frontlines of clinical care in primary care settings. To achieve this goal, CARE for Health ™ will establish a primary care Research Network Hubs across the United States. 

This network will facilitate and accelerate research advances for adoption and implementation into everyday clinical care, improving health outcomes and advancing health equity for all. 

The goals of CARE for Health™ are to: 

• Pilot and implement a coordinated infrastructure that integrates innovative research with routine clinical care, with and for primary care.  
• Support primary care-based clinical research in mission areas spanning prevention and treatment across all NIH mission areas with a focus on health equity and whole person health.
• Establish a foundation for sustained engagement with communities that are underrepresented in clinical research.
• Implement innovative study designs that are suitable for primary care settings that address common health issues and inform clinical practice and enhance dissemination and implementation.  

The network will involve the following components: 

• Clinical Science Center
  • Provide oversight of the studies/protocols and site and study selection.
  • Offer statistical and data management support.
  • Develop innovative clinical study designs and implementation strategies to minimize burden on participants and providers in primary care settings. 
• Operations Center – Conduct site feasibility assessments, facilitate site agreements/contracting, and coordination of study operations (protocol development; compliance with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) regulatory and participant protection requirements; communications; training; auditing; quality assurance; and data monitoring). 
• Independent Review and Monitoring Boards - Including Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), Observational Study Monitoring Board (OSMB), and the Central Institutional Review Board (IRB).
• Network Research Hubs – Leverage existing research networks and partnerships with Clinical Sites to conduct clinical research in primary care settings. 
• Community Engagement – Provide support, advice, and resources, in part through partnerships with existing entities, to facilitate sustained participant and community engagement, community-driven research, and integration of studies in primary and community care settings. 
• Industry Partnerships – Engage for-profit partners for collaborative knowledge sharing and potential participation in/use of the infrastructure.

Interested in receiving program updates? 
Sign up for the NIH Common Fund’s CARE for Health email listserv to receive periodic updates on program planning and activities.

Communities Advancing Research Equity for Health, CARE for Health™, and CARE for Health – an NIH Primary Care Research Network™ are trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).