Preclinical Engagement Program & Case Studies
The ITHS Preclinical Engagement Program (PEP) is a free program for preclinical researchers (e.g., basic scientists and bench scientists). The program uses community engagement principles to match researchers with community members to serve as advisors on their studies (scroll down for case studies). The goal is to bring the perspectives of patients and communities into the early stages of research, ensuring research decisions are informed by the real-world experiences, needs, and priorities of those impacted by the health outcome being studied.
BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING
- Integrate community perspectives into your preclinical research.
- Leverage insights from your community advisors to refine approaches and overcome implementation barriers.
- Forge meaningful connections to enhance your content expertise and align with evolving research priorities.
- Utilize support from the PEP Coordinating Center to recruit your community advisors.
- Access PEP funding to compensate your community members for their contributions.
Please fill out the intake form to participate, or contact PEP Coordinator Sonia Bishop (skbishop@uw.edu) for more information.
Case Studies
Want to know more about how the PEP has helped other investigators? Read our case studies below to find examples of what we can do for you.
Case Study 1: Developing a mouse model to mimic ALS symptoms
A pre-clinical investigator was developing a mouse model to better understand the pathophysiology of ALS motor dysfunction needed to validate the model against actual ALS symptoms in humans. Without having experience treating patients with ALS, the pre-clinical investigator needed a method to confirm how closely the mouse model mimics symptoms in humans. Read more about the ALS case study…
Case Study 2: Military service members’ needs open new line of preclinical research—small blast TBI exposure
The US military contacted a researcher specializing in traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to large blast exposure in veterans to look specifically at small blast repeat exposure in enlisted soldiers. Little evidence existed about the impacts of small blast exposure and this was not an area of research for the researcher or his team. Read more about the TBI exposure case study…
Case Study 3: Improving generalizability of biomarker results
An investigator was asked to evaluate the absence of amyloid and tau biomarker samples for underrepresented groups (URGs) in a larger clinical trial. Concerns were raised about the generalizability of results due to lack of diversity in the biomarker samples. A trial audit indicated that the blood draw was perceived as a barrier to trial participation. Read more about the biomarker case study…
Case Study 4: Improving the SARs-CoV-2 home testing kit for vulnerable communities
Following reports of limited SARs-CoV-2 testing among rural and minoritized populations, a researcher wanted to develop a testing platform for use in infectious disease testing for agents such as SARs-CoV-2 and influenza that addresses the needs of those most vulnerable. Reports indicated that testing was inadequate in older populations and those with limited access to health care. Read more about the home testing kit case study…
Case Study 5: The impact of genetic polymorphisms on drug pharmacokinetics in minoritized populations
A pre-clinical researcher exploring the contribution of genetic polymorphisms on drug pharmacokinetics lacked biospecimens from minoritized communities. Broadening their sample collection to include diverse populations was critical to better understanding the role of genetics in drug effectiveness and safety in diverse populations. Read more about the drug pharmacokinetics case study…