High rates and disparities of COVID-19 infection, morbidity, and mortality continue among underserved and vulnerable populations across the United States. The overarching goal of the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics for Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) initiative is to understand and ameliorate factors that have placed a disproportionate burden of the pandemic on underserved and/or vulnerable populations, specifically by implementing programs that expand the scope and reach of COVID-19 testing interventions to reduce these disparities. To address barriers to testing and vaccination, social, ethical, and behavioral research is urgently needed to inform related mitigation efforts. This Phase II RADx-UP Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed to expand research to understand and address the social, ethical, and behavioral implications (SEBI) of COVID-19 testing interventions among underserved and vulnerable populations. Desirable studies for Phase II will move beyond descriptive health disparities research to focus on developing interventions and other actionable solutions in collaboration with community partners and stakeholders. The funding for this initiative is provided from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
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