The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has initiated a groundbreaking research program called the Community Partnerships to Advance Science for Society (ComPASS). This program, funded by the NIH Common Fund with approximately $ 171 million over five years, aims to address the underlying structural factors in communities that impact health equity. ComPASS provides direct funding to 26 community organizations and a coordinating centre to collaborate with academic institutions and other entities throughout the research process.
The research focuses on social determinants of health, including factors like access to safe spaces, healthy food, employment opportunities, transportation, and quality healthcare. These factors contribute to health disparities, and ComPASS seeks to create sustainable solutions through structural interventions. Each project aims to design and implement innovative strategies to improve health outcomes such as economic development, community context, healthcare access, and nutrition.
Examples of ComPASS-supported projects include enhancing access to healthy food for rural communities, assessing the impact of early childcare strategies, improving healthcare access through transportation support, and enhancing healthcare for sexual and gender minority older adults.
This community-driven research model fosters collaboration and aims to transform the health of individuals and communities. It also contributes valuable data to understanding social determinants of health and structural inequities, while NIH gains insights into supporting future community-led health research. The ComPASS program is managed collaboratively by several NIH institutes and offices, promoting inclusivity and equity in healthcare research.
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