Using Peer Mentors to Increase the Racial/Ethnic Diversity of Psoriatic Disease Research Participants
Principal Investigator: Junko Takeshita, M.D., Ph.D., MSCE
Institution: University of Pennsylvania
Grant Mechanism: Discovery Grant
Funding Amount: $75,000
Project Start Date: August 1, 2022
Project End Date: July 31, 2023
Status: Active
Keywords: Psoriasis, Clinical Research, Patient Education
Project Summary:
A major barrier to ensuring that new scientific knowledge is applicable to all people with psoriasis is the lack of adequate representation of racial/ethnic minority individuals in clinical research studies for psoriasis. Efforts to increase racial/ethnic minority participation in dermatologic clinical research are limited, and interventions that increase the willingness of racial/ethnic minority individuals with psoriasis to participate in clinical research are needed. We aim to: (i) develop a peer mentor program in which people with psoriasis who have participated in clinical research studies serve as informational resources for and address the barriers to participation in clinical research among Black individuals with psoriasis, and (ii) test the effectiveness of the peer mentor program to increase the willingness of Black individuals to participate in clinical research studies for psoriasis. Our proposal is an essential first step in increasing the number of Black participants in psoriasis clinical research and will inform future studies to test the effectiveness of a peer mentoring program among a broader racial/ethnic minority population of individuals with psoriasis.
Researcher Profile:
Dr. Junko Takeshita's research program is dedicated to identifying, understanding and eliminating health and healthcare disparities related to dermatologic diseases, particularly chronic inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and acne. She uses quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research techniques to study health disparities and has authored many scientific publications on the topics of racial/ethnic health and healthcare disparities in psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and acne; psoriasis comorbidities; and comparative effectiveness research in psoriasis. Dr. Takeshita is a recipient of an Outstanding New Investigator Award from the National Psoriasis Foundation, a Young Investigator Award from the American Academy of Dermatology, and a Young Physician-Scientist Award from the American Society for Clinical Investigation. She is a recipient of grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Dermatology Foundation, the National Psoriasis Foundation and the National Eczema Association.