Friday, August 8, 2025
Science
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Scienmag
No Result
View All Result
Home Science News Medicine

PhRMA Foundation awards $1M for equity-focused research on digital health tools

April 25, 2024
in Medicine
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
PhRMA Foundation awards $1M for equity-focused research on digital health tools
66
SHARES
596
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

The PhRMA Foundation (PhF) awarded $500,000 grants to David G. Armstrong, DPM, MD, PhD, of the University of Southern California and Nino Isakadze, MD, MHS, of Johns Hopkins University to conduct research using digital health technologies (DHTs) to improve health equity and health outcomes for patients. 

The PhRMA Foundation (PhF) awarded $500,000 grants to David G. Armstrong, DPM, MD, PhD, of the University of Southern California and Nino Isakadze, MD, MHS, of Johns Hopkins University to conduct research using digital health technologies (DHTs) to improve health equity and health outcomes for patients. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Armstrong and Isakadze were selected out of a group of seven researchers awarded $25,000 planning grants in 2023 by the Foundation to develop comprehensive research proposals to study the use of DHTs for advancing patient health, especially in underserved populations.   

“Digital health technologies have great potential to improve health care broadly, but they could be especially impactful for underserved communities if we design and test them with equity in mind,” said Amy M. Miller, PhD, president of the PhRMA Foundation. “These studies will engage diverse populations to develop digital health solutions targeting treatment challenges for patients with diabetes and heart arrhythmia.” 

Armstrong, a professor of surgery and neurological surgery at Keck School of Medicine of USC, will lead a project that aims to improve treatment for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) using special smart boots that relieve pressure from specific areas of the foot. DFUs affect 15% of patients with diabetes — more than 1 million people annually — and if inadequately treated, can lead to amputation. Individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to develop DFUs, receive amputations, and experience complications, leading to a lower survival rate. 

While pressure offloading boots are considered the gold standard of care for DFU, patients struggle with using them because of discomfort, aesthetics, and mobility restrictions. Armstrong’s team seeks to improve patient outcomes with a new smart boot design that allows for remote monitoring of patient activity and adherence to the treatment. 

“This grant from the PhRMA Foundation empowers us to enhance our smart offloading boots, tailoring them to fit the unique cultural and behavioral aspects of minority populations who are most at risk for hospitalization and amputation,” Armstrong said. “Our project is a step forward in making state-of-the-art health care accessible and equitable for all, particularly those in underserved communities.” 

Isakadze, a clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellow and incoming faculty at Hopkins’ School of Medicine, will lead a project to test a digital health intervention for the management of atrial fibrillation (Afib), the most common type of heart arrhythmia. Afib is associated with poor quality of life and increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and death. Evidence shows that modifying risk factors such as weight, physical activity, and tobacco and alcohol use can reduce Afib burden.  

Isakadze’s team is working with diverse patients, clinicians, and key stakeholders to design and test an Afib care management program that integrates 1) an Apple watch to track heart health data 2) a mobile app to educate and empower patients in tracking their health and setting health goals, 3) a clinician dashboard with patient data from the mobile app and smartwatch, and 4) individualized weekly health coaching to promote adherence to the virtual program. 

“Receiving the PhRMA Foundation grant will allow us to generate robust evidence to support the use of digital health technologies to enable risk factor modification for diverse patients with Afib and bridge the critical gap in Afib management,” Isakadze said. “I am confident that digital health tools have tremendous potential to reach people where they are and transform health care delivery.” 



Share26Tweet17
Previous Post

How electric vehicle drivers can escape range anxiety

Next Post

Study unveils balance of AI and preserving humanity in health care

Related Posts

blank
Medicine

Mobile App Significantly Lowers Suicidal Behavior in High-Risk Patients

August 8, 2025
blank
Medicine

Conjugated Lipopetide Antibiotics Target Candida auris

August 8, 2025
blank
Medicine

Initial Immune System Challenges Impact Oral Health

August 8, 2025
blank
Medicine

The Meditation App Revolution: Science Backs the Movement

August 8, 2025
blank
Medicine

Astrocyte CXCL10 Drives Brain Injury After Hemorrhage

August 8, 2025
blank
Medicine

Multimodal Neuromonitoring in Neonates on ECMO

August 8, 2025
Next Post
Nursing Survey - AI in Health Care

Study unveils balance of AI and preserving humanity in health care

  • Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    27531 shares
    Share 11009 Tweet 6881
  • University of Seville Breaks 120-Year-Old Mystery, Revises a Key Einstein Concept

    943 shares
    Share 377 Tweet 236
  • Bee body mass, pathogens and local climate influence heat tolerance

    641 shares
    Share 256 Tweet 160
  • Researchers record first-ever images and data of a shark experiencing a boat strike

    507 shares
    Share 203 Tweet 127
  • Warm seawater speeding up melting of ‘Doomsday Glacier,’ scientists warn

    310 shares
    Share 124 Tweet 78
Science

Embark on a thrilling journey of discovery with Scienmag.com—your ultimate source for cutting-edge breakthroughs. Immerse yourself in a world where curiosity knows no limits and tomorrow’s possibilities become today’s reality!

RECENT NEWS

  • Anthelmintic Impact and Ascaris Infection in Pakistani Children
  • Rare Case: Tracheal Bronchus Complicates Pulmonary Agenesis
  • Microbial Resilience in Arid Soils Fueled by Stochastic Dynamics
  • Studying Bamboo Coral: A Key Mediterranean Ecosystem Indicator

Categories

  • Agriculture
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Athmospheric
  • Biology
  • Bussines
  • Cancer
  • Chemistry
  • Climate
  • Earth Science
  • Marine
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine
  • Pediatry
  • Policy
  • Psychology & Psychiatry
  • Science Education
  • Social Science
  • Space
  • Technology and Engineering

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 4,860 other subscribers

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine

Discover more from Science

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading