Improving Pediatric Access to Clinical Trials in Vermont (IMPACT VT)

University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) and the UVM Health Network (UVMHN) serves a highly rural region. Children in the region receive primary care in both community-based and UVMHN practices, and specialty care at UVM Children’s Hospital. Primary care and subspecialty providers have clinical and research expertise in the ECHO interest areas and established collaborations with the clinical site to facilitate clinical trial access for rural children. Collaboration with the Northern New England Clinical Translational Research Network (NNE-CTR), state organizations, families, and community groups aids rural outreach and community engagement. In collaboration with other ECHO ISPCTN sites, the DCOC, and the NIH, the UVM site works to improve clinical trials access, develop and implement clinical trials pertinent to rural children, and train pediatric investigators committed to clinical trials research for this population. A significant discrepancy exists between the burden of disease in the pediatric population and opportunities to participate in clinical research, particularly in groups such as rural children. UVM’s objective is to continue to collaborate in the development and conduct of multicenter clinical trials with a focus on access for children in rural communities, engage in community informed research, and leverage prior successes as an ISPCTN site to further expand the pediatric research capacity at UVM. UVM is committed to remaining an integral part of the ISPCTN and will advance the goals of the Network through the following specific aims: 1. Develop, conduct, and disseminate findings from multicenter clinical trials research, assuring the participation of children living in rural communities in IDeA states. UVM will build on the site’s previous work, continue leadership in ISPCTN studies, expand the site team, support new investigators, and share resources to develop and conduct clinical trials with a focus on access for rural children. 2. Build pediatric clinical trial research capacity. UVM will expand their Pediatric Clinical Trials Learning Collaborative program that provides clinical research training and American Board of Pediatrics Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credit for QI activities to enhance collaboration and improve clinical trials access to rural children. UVM will leverage resources including the DCOC, ISPCTN site collaborations, NNE-CTR and UVM Research Professionals Network. 3. Engage interested parties such as community members, nonprofit organizations, and professional societies to enhance ECHO ISPCTN clinical trial impact, rigor, and feasibility. The UVM outreach program will leverage existing partnerships and collaborations to support multidisciplinary and community informed research to collaborate in the development of pediatric clinical trials centered on rural children. The team will pilot a strategic community engagement process to develop a community driven study and to share learned best practices.