Project Grant R01HL183999

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute awarded Wake Forest University Health Sciences $665,254 on September 1, 2026, under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837) to conduct a hybrid type II effectiveness-implementation cluster-randomized trial evaluating ASPIRE, a low-burden implementation toolkit integrating self-measured blood pressure monitoring into primary care workflows.

ASPIRE addresses barriers to adoption of self-measured blood pressure monitoring in under-resourced primary care settings by providing validated device training, embedding documentation and follow-up into provider workflows, and integrating readings into the electronic health record for timely clinical action. The toolkit uses standard, non-connected devices and existing clinic staff—primarily medical assistants—to ensure scalability and sustainability. A prior pilot randomized trial (n=50) demonstrated 68 percent patient engagement with ASPIRE versus 32 percent in controls and an 11.9 millimeter of mercury greater systolic blood pressure reduction at six months.

The trial spans 15 clinics across Illinois and Wisconsin with co-primary effectiveness and implementation outcomes. The effectiveness aim evaluates whether systolic blood pressure reduction improves across ASPIRE, self-measured blood pressure monitoring alone, and usual care. Implementation outcomes assess adoption, implementation fidelity, and cost-effectiveness using implementation science frameworks including the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and the ERIC taxonomy.

Performance occurs in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through May 31, 2031. The assistance type is a Project Grant.