Integrating Special Populations Program

The Integrating Special Populations Program enhances the engagement of special populations through innovative strategies that support research teams and by addressing and supporting the priorities of special populations that have been historically underrepresented and underserved in health research. The goal of the program is to ensure that people from these groups have the opportunity to engage — both as stakeholders and as participants — in research that addresses their health concerns and improves the health of their communities.

The Integrating Special Populations Program focuses on the following groups of people:

• Children and adolescents younger than age 18.
• Older adults.
• People with rare diseases.
• People of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
• People living in rural areas.
• People of low socioeconomic status.

Activities

The Integrating Special Populations Program connects researchers with the communities, resources and information they need to encourage meaningful engagement of special populations.

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  Research volunteer identification service

  The Integrating Special Populations Program's research volunteer identification service helps investigators increase participant diversity in study design, recruitment and enrollment.

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  Rochester Area Older Adult Registry

  The Rochester Area Older Adult Registry assists seniors who want to volunteer in research by matching them with appropriate studies.

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  Olmsted County Birth Cohort and Southeast Minnesota Birth Cohort

  CCaTS' Integrating Special Populations Program maintains two large, population-based birth cohorts in Minnesota for pediatric epidemiological research.

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  Mayo Clinic Umbilical Cord Blood Biobank

  The Umbilical Cord Blood Biobank includes samples from infants and mothers to enable pediatric research into their unique medical needs.

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  Pediatric Advisory Board

  In the Pediatric Advisory Board, children advise Mayo Clinic investigators on their pediatric research to make sure it reflects kids' thoughts, addresses their needs and benefits their health.

Rare diseases

CCaTS is enhancing the resources to engage individuals with rare and undiagnosed diseases. In partnership with the Center for Individualized Medicine, the Program for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, led by Filippo Pinto e Vairo, M.D., Ph.D., aims to transform the care of patients through translational research, increasing the number of patients who receive a genetic diagnosis and improve their care.

Funding opportunities

In partnership with the CCaTS pilot awards program, several funding opportunities are available for special populations research. Awarded projects receive access to consultation services and assistance from CCaTS' Community Engagement in Research Program.

Funding opportunities are available for research on topics including:

• Aging.
• Community-identified health needs.
• Pediatric diseases and conditions.
• Rare diseases.

More information is available on the CCaTS Funding Opportunities webpage.

Leadership

The Integrating Special Populations Program is led by a team of multidisciplinary experts.

• Konstantinos N. Lazaridis, M.D.
  Director
• Robert J. Pignolo, M.D., Ph.D.
  Co-director

Contact

For more information about CCaTS' Integrating Special Populations Program, contact:

• Laura M. Meiners, M.B.A.
  • CCaTS Director of Operations
  • Email: meiners.laura@mayo.edu