Arkansas ECHO ISPCTN Site (AREIS)

Children in Arkansas face significant challenges. Ranking 46th in child health, Arkansas is one of the least safe and least healthy states for children. Access to pediatric healthcare in Arkansas is limited by geographic barriers and high rates of poverty among children especially among those residing in rural regions communities. The lack of opportunities to participate in research trials relevant to their needs further limits the ability to overcome barriers to healthcare access and prevents rural children from benefitting from the latest scientific advances. The Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network (ISPCTN) was formed in 2015 to provide clinical trial participation opportunities for children living in IDeA states and to build research capacity for pediatric clinical trials in states like Arkansas with historically low NIH funding. The ARkansas ECHO ISPCTN Site (AREIS) based at Arkansas Children’s Research Institute is a vital player in this endeavor, having been productive and engaged since the inception of the ISPCTN. AREIS aims to continue its mission in the next funding cycle by focusing on several key objectives: 1) providing research expertise and leadership for the development and implementation of clinical trials in high-priority ECHO focus areas; 2) increasing clinical trials competency and leadership skills among AREIS faculty and staff; 3) mentoring early-stage investigators to build research capacity; and 4) building community partnerships to enhance the participation of rural and other high-risk pediatric populations in clinical trials. AREIS will continue to work closely with the Data Coordinating and Operations Center, with other ISPCTN sites, and will leverage resources at our clinical sites and the Clinical and Translational Sciences Award at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to meet these objectives. This concerted effort by AREIS underscores our commitment to improving child health outcomes in Arkansas and other IDeA states, particularly for those facing geographic barriers and high rates of poverty. By addressing these challenges through research, capacity building, and community engagement, AREIS aims to make meaningful strides towards improving the health and well-being of children in rural communities and among children with unmet healthcare needs.