Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) awarded the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital a Project Grant of $446,046 on July 1, 2026, under the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research program (CFDA 93.307) to address diagnostic imaging disparities affecting rural children. The project, titled "Facilitating Ultrasound Utilization for Diagnosis of Abdominal Pain in Rural Children," will operate through June 30, 2028, and focuses on increasing access to ultrasound imaging in underserved rural communities, particularly in Appalachia, where children currently receive computed tomography scans disproportionately despite the higher costs, radiation exposure, and cancer risks involved. The research will deliver evidence-based models and implementation strategies to improve diagnostic imaging practices for approximately 13 million children in rural areas who face persistent healthcare access disparities.

The project will generate three key research products guided by the Practical Implementation Sustainability Model and RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework. Aim 1 will simulate three ultrasound utilization models to quantify their reach and effectiveness in reducing radiation exposure for pediatric abdominal pain evaluation. Aim 2 will identify patient, facility, and area-level contextual factors associated with variable ultrasound use among low-income rural children. Aim 3 will employ qualitative methods to determine caregiver and organizational-level factors influencing ultrasound adoption at community hospitals in Appalachia. Collectively, these research deliverables will provide insights for a national approach to increase ultrasound utilization and support policy and practice recommendations for reducing health disparities in rural pediatric care.