AIM-CP

April 7, 2026: Enrollment Begins for AIM-CP and RAMP Pragmatic Trials

Posted on by Damon Seils

Two of the NIH Collaboratory Trials began enrollment last week. Congratulations to the study teams from AIM-CP and RAMP for reaching this important project milestone!

Headshots of Dr. Sebastian Tong and Dr. Kushang Patel
Sebastian Tong and Kushang Patel, principal investigators for AIM-CP

AIM-CP (Adapting and Implementing a Nurse Care Management Model to Care for Rural Patients With Chronic Pain) is testing the implementation of a care management model to address disparate access to nonpharmacological treatments for chronic pain in rural populations. The program includes care coordination, cognitive behavioral therapy, and referral to a virtual exercise program. The study is led by principal investigators Sebastian Tong and Kushang Patel of the University of Washington.

The AIM-CP study team recently reported the results of a pilot study showing that their integrated nurse care management model is a feasible and effective way to deliver nonpharmacological chronic pain treatment to patients in rural communities. Learn more about AIM-CP.

Headshots of Diana Burgess, Roni Evans, and Katherine Hadlandsmyth
Diana Burgess, Roni Evans, and Katherine Hadlandsmyth, principal investigators for RAMP

RAMP (Reaching Rural Veterans: Applying Mind-Body Skills for Pain Using a Whole Health Telehealth Intervention) is evaluating the use of a 9-week mind-body skills training program for rural veterans with pain within the VA’s Whole Health initiative, including a one-on-one session with a health coach followed by weekly group sessions that include prerecorded expert-led education videos, mind-body skills training and practice, and group discussions. The principal investigators are Diana Burgess and Roni Evans of the University of Minnesota and Katherine Hadlandsmyth of the University of Iowa.

A recently published pilot study allowed the research team to identify several strategies to optimize the RAMP intervention for the full-scale randomized trial, including strategies to reduce participant burden and improve retention and tailor the program to the rural veteran experience. Learn more about RAMP.

Both AIM-CP and RAMP are supported within the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory through the NIH HEAL Initiative by grants administered by the National Institute of Nursing Research.

March 9, 2026: AIM-CP Nurse Care Management Program Shows Promise for Rural Patients With Chronic Pain

Posted on by Damon Seils
Headshots of Dr. Sebastian Tong and Dr. Kushang Patel
Dr. Sebastian Tong and Dr. Kushang Patel, principal investigators for AIM-CP

A pilot study of the AIM-CP intervention showed that an integrated nurse care management model is a feasible and effective way to deliver nonpharmacological chronic pain treatment to patients in rural communities. The findings will inform a full-scale randomized controlled trial to evaluate the intervention’s impact on a larger scale.

The results were published online ahead of print in Pain Medicine.

Rural residents experience higher rates of chronic pain but often lack access to evidence-based alternatives to opioids, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise therapy. AIM-CP, an NIH Collaboratory Trial led by principal investigators Sebastian Tong and Kushang Patel of the University of Washington, will test a virtual nurse care management model that includes care coordination, cognitive behavioral therapy, and referral to a virtual exercise program.

The pilot study, conducted with 29 participants across healthcare systems in Washington and North Carolina, showed the intervention was feasible and had a high level of acceptability to patients. Participants experienced significant reductions in pain interference and improved satisfaction with their health. While adherence to nurse-led sessions was strong, the researchers observed low uptake for the exercise component, a challenge the team plans to address through enhanced training and support in the larger randomized trial.

AIM-CP is supported within the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory through the NIH HEAL Initiative by a grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research. Learn more about AIM-CP.

December 22, 2025: Rural Health Symposium Opens Registration, Announces Call for Abstracts

Posted on by Damon Seils

The Duke University School of Nursing will convene healthcare professionals, educators, researchers, community leaders, and policymakers for a 1-day symposium dedicated to reducing rural health disparities across North Carolina through collaboration and innovation.

On April 20, 2026, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina (and virtually via livestream), participants will come together for dynamic presentations, panels, poster sessions, and discussions with guests, including leaders from ECU Health, Sanford Health, UT-Arlington, and the NC Department of Health and Human Services. A reception will follow the program.

The deadline for abstract submission is February 9, 2026. See more information about the program below.

Did you know the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory supports several innovative pragmatic clinical trials to improve healthcare for rural and remote populations? Learn more about:

  • AIM-CP: Adapting and Implementing a Nurse Care Management Model to Care for Rural Patients with Chronic Pain
  • APA-SM: Personalized Auricular Point Acupressure for Chronic Pain Self-Management in Rural Populations
  • ARBOR-Telehealth: Advancing Rural Back Pain Outcomes Through Rehabilitation Telehealth
  • BeatPain Utah: Nonpharmacologic Pain Management in Federally Qualified Health Centers Primary Care Clinics
  • LungSMART: Population Health Management Approaches to Increase Lung Cancer Screening in Community Health Centers
  • RAMP: Reaching Rural Veterans: Applying Mind-Body Skills for Pain Using a Whole Health Telehealth Intervention

1st Annual Duke University School of Nursing Rural Health Symposium: Innovative Solutions to Addressing Rural Health Disparities

1st Annual Duke University School of Nursing Rural Health Symposium: Innovative Solutions to Addressing Rural Health Disparities

Monday, April 20, 9am-3pm, with Reception to Follow

Duke University Campus and Livestream Webinar

Register Now and Submit Abstracts by February 9

You are warmly invited to participate in the 1st Annual Duke University School of Nursing Rural Health Symposium, a one-day event that will convene healthcare professionals, educators, researchers, community leaders, and policymakers to address rural health disparities across North Carolina through collaboration and innovation.

Date: April 20, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Duke University (with virtual livestream option)

The symposium will feature dynamic presentations, panel discussions, poster sessions, and networking opportunities, including a closing reception. Distinguished speakers will include:

  • Trisha Baise, ECU Health
  • Erica DeBoer, Sanford Health
  • Elizabeth Merwin, University of Texas at Arlington
  • Maggie Sauer, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

We invite you to submit abstracts by February 9 to share your research, innovations, and best practices that advance rural health.

Register today: https://duke.is/ruralhealth

Your participation will help foster meaningful dialogue and actionable strategies to improve health outcomes in rural communities. We look forward to your contributions and engagement in this important event.

December 8, 2025: New Podcast Explores Partnership Between Rural-Focused Research Network and BeatPain, an NIH Collaboratory Trial

Posted on by Sophia Ramirez

In a new episode of the Rethinking Clinical Trials Podcast, Julie Fritz of the University of Utah and Sebastian Tong of the University of Washington expanded on key takeaways from their recent Grand Rounds presentation, “Integrating the BeatPain Study With PRaCTICe, a New Network Research Hub of the CARE for Health Initiative.”

Listen to the podcast. For alerts about new episodes, subscribe for free on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, or SoundCloud.

In an effort to connect patients in rural areas with innovative care, the Primary Care Rural and Frontier Clinical Trials Innovation Center (PRaCTICe) partnered with BeatPain. In the podcast, Fritz and Tong discuss what made the partnership a good fit.

“The BeatPain study was meeting a need that clinicians that patients had identified: access to non-pharmacological treatments for chronic pain that are evidence-based in many places there just wasn’t access to physical therapy,” said Tong.

Roughly a year into their collaboration, PRaCTICe had referred 165 patients to the BeatPain team, 95% of which were rural residents. Fritz and Tong each shared some of their lessons learned around building trust and capacity in low resource settings.

“Local people who support what you’re doing, that you build relationships with so they know that you’re doing the best you can by the participants that come out of their clinics, I think that’s been key to building successful partnerships. Both at the clinical level and at the patient level,” said Fritz.

BeatPain Utah, an NIH Collaboratory Trial, is comparing the effectiveness of nonpharmacologic intervention strategies for patients with back pain seeking care in federally qualified health centers throughout the state of Utah.

Fritz is the principal investigator for BeatPain Utah and a distinguished professor of physical therapy and athletic training at the University of Utah. Tong is a co–principal investigator for AIM-CP, an NIH Collaboratory Trial, and an associate professor of family medicine at the University of Washington.

July 14, 2025: Researchers Share Tips for Building Relationships With Communities in Pragmatic Research

Posted on by Elizabeth Mccamic

Engaging with community partners can enrich and inform research through the lifespan of a trial. In a session at the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory’s 2025 Annual Steering Committee Meeting, Cherise Harrington, cochair of the program’s Community Health Improvement Core, led a discussion about building relationships with communities in pragmatic research.

The panelists included Jennifer Kawi, principal investigator (PI) for APA-SM; Kathleen Sluka, PI for FM-TIPS; Sebastian Tong, PI for AIM-CP; and David Wetter, PI for LungSMART. They shared examples of how community relationships have enriched their trials, along with impediments to meaningful community engagement and successful methods for building relationships with communities.

Key Strategies for Engaging With Communities

  • Build long-standing relationships with community partners, develop shared goals, and practice shared decision-making.
  • Design for sustainability. Design research projects with minimal disruption to the clinical workflow; utilize existing community health workers and programs; and integrate behavioral economics principles (nudges) into study design.
  • Budget for community engagement and include community members in study planning from the beginning.
  • Engage in the preferred language of the community. Ensure there are research staff who are fluent in the community’s preferred language and embedded in the community so they can provide key perspectives and help build trust.
  • Provide community health workers and research staff with training on community engagement.
  • Connect with community members where they spend time, such as community events and fairs, and visit local clinics to share information for referrals.

About the Trials

  • AIM-CP, supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research, is testing the implementation of a care management program to address disparate access to nonpharmacological treatments for chronic pain in rural populations.
  • APA-SM, supported by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, is testing a 4-week auricular point acupressure intervention for self-management of chronic pain in rural communities in South Carolina and Texas.
  • FM-TIPS, supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, is examining whether the addition of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to routine physical therapy improves movement-evoked pain compared with physical therapy alone among patients with fibromyalgia.
  • LungSMART, supported by the National Cancer Institute, is testing telehealth interventions designed to address logistical barriers and hesitancy around completing lung cancer screening among patients receiving care in community health centers in Utah.

This summer, we are sharing highlights from the 2025 Annual Steering Committee Meeting. Access the complete collection of meeting materials.

July 2, 2025: Researchers Share Tips for Embedding Pragmatic Trials Into Primary Care Settings

Posted on by Karen Staman

Headshots of Drs. Wendy Weber, Julie Fritz, Natalia Morone, and Sebastian TongAlthough the need for pragmatic research in primary care settings is great, conduct of pragmatic clinical trials in these settings remains nascent. In a session at the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory’s 2025 Annual Steering Committee Meeting, Wendy Weber of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) led a discussion about how to expand pragmatic research into primary care settings.

The panelists included Julie Fritz, principal investigator (PI) for BeatPain Utah; Natalia Morone, PI for OPTIMUM; and Sebastian Tong, co-PI for AIM-CP. They shared some of the challenges of conducting research in primary care.

  • Primary care physicians have multiple competing demands for attention and focus, and a range of topics to cover in a single visit.
  • The expectation of being offered participation in clinical trials is lower in primary care than in specialty visits.
  • There are fewer resources that can be diverted to research in primary care, especially time and personnel.

Key Takeaways

How do we adapt pragmatic clinical trials to primary care?

Identify relevant and meaningful research questions

The panelists suggested that, when planning a trial, investigators should think about the primary care setting and consider what problems keep clinicians up at night. Research will be easier to implement if it helps alleviate these problems.

“In primary care, [primary care physicians] are looking at the entire person,” Tong said. “There has to be value added in how we care for the patients with the condition under study, either where the [physician] sees a difference in their patients’ lives or their own lives with respect to reduced burden,” he said.

The panelists also suggested that, for community health centers, there are certain conditions that are linked to data reporting standards, and aligning research with these standards will make studies easier to champion.

Adapt to different kinds of primary care settings

The panelists stressed the need for adaptably and flexibility in intervention delivery because all primary care settings are different. If  possible, researchers should tailor the workflow at each site in a way that is familiar to providers. the panelists also suggested that initial engagement by external researchers is best made with someone who is trusted at the site.

Some clinics, including community health centers, may be new to research and may need additional support. Many do not have an institutional review board or a Federalwide Assurance number, and many do not have experience using the electronic health record for research and developing data use agreements.

About the Trials

  • BeatPain Utah, supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), is comparing the effectiveness of nonpharmacologic interventions delivered via telehealth for patients with back pain seeking care in federally qualified health centers in Utah.
  • OPTIMUM, supported by NCCIH, is assessing the impact of a group-based mindfulness intervention for patients with chronic back pain under usual care circumstances in the primary care setting.
  • AIM-CP, supported by NINR, is testing the implementation of a care management program to address disparate access to nonpharmacological treatments for chronic pain in rural populations.

This summer, we are sharing highlights from the 2025 Annual Steering Committee Meeting.  Access the complete collection of meeting materials.

February 24, 2025: Study Snapshots and Updated Ethics Documentation Available for 3 NIH HEAL Initiative–Supported Trials in Rural Populations

Posted on by Damon Seils

New study snapshots and updated ethics and regulatory documentation are now available for the AIM-CP, ARBOR-Telehealth, and RAMP trials. The 3 NIH Collaboratory Trials, all supported through the NIH HEAL Initiative℠, or Helping to End Addiction Long-Term Initiative℠, reflect a special emphasis on developing strategies for the management of chronic pain in rural and remote populations. The trials have transitioned from the UG3 planning phase to the UH3 implementation phase.

“There are many known disparities between urban and rural populations,” said Karen Kehl, a program director at the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), in an interview at the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory’s 2024 Annual Steering Committee Meeting. “And when we talk about chronic pain, we know that there’s a higher incidence and a higher severity of pain in rural populations, and yet they don’t have access to many of the effective solutions that we have,” Kehl added.

AIM-CP

 AIM-CP is testing the implementation of a care management program to address disparate access to nonpharmacological treatments for chronic pain in rural populations. The principal investigators are Sebastian Tong and Kushang Patel of the University of Washington. The study is supported by NINR.

 

ARBOR-Telehealth

 ARBOR-Telehealth is evaluating the use of a telehealth physical therapy strategy for patients who present to primary care clinics with low back pain in rural communities. The principal investigators are Richard Skolasky and Kevin McLaughlin of Johns Hopkins University. The study is supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

 

RAMP

 RAMP is evaluating the use of a 12-week mind-body skills training program for rural veterans with pain within the VA’s Whole Health initiative, including a one-on-one session with a Whole Health coach followed by 11 weekly group sessions to include prerecorded expert-led education videos, mind-body skills training and practice, and group discussions. The principal investigators are Diana Burgess and Roni Evans of the University of Minnesota and Katherine Hadlandsmyth of the University of Iowa. The study is supported by NINR.

 

June 27, 2024: NIH HEAL Initiative Turns Attention to Pragmatic Trials in Rural Communities

Posted on by Damon Seils

Three of the newest NIH Collaboratory Trials are supported through the NIH HEAL Initiative℠, or Helping to End Addiction Long-Term Initiative℠, reflecting a special emphasis on developing strategies for the management of chronic pain in rural and remote populations.

“There are many known disparities between urban and rural populations,” said Karen Kehl, a program director at the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). “And when we talk about chronic pain, we know that there’s a higher incidence and a higher severity of pain in rural populations, and yet they don’t have access to many of the effective solutions that we have,” Kehl added.

We recently spoke with Kehl, Julie Fritz of the BeatPain Utah trial, and the principal investigators of the AIM-CP, ARBOR-Telehealth, and RAMP trials at the NIH Collaboratory’s 2024 Annual Steering Committee Meeting. They discussed the progress of their studies and the importance of supporting healthcare and promoting health equity in rural communities through pragmatic research.

AIM-CP

 AIM-CP will test the implementation of a care management program to address inequities in access to nonpharmacological treatment for chronic pain in rural populations. The principal investigators are Kushang Patel and Sebastian Tong of the University of Washington. The study is supported by NINR. Learn more about AIM-CP.

ARBOR-Telehealth

 ARBOR-Telehealth will evaluate the use of a telehealth physical therapy strategy for patients who present to primary care clinics with low back pain in rural communities. The principal investigators are Richard Skolasky and Kevin McLaughlin of Johns Hopkins University. The study is supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Learn more about ARBOR-Telehealth.

RAMP

 RAMP will evaluate the use of a 12-week mind-body skills training program for rural veterans with pain, including a one-on-one session with a “whole health coach” followed by 11 weekly group sessions to include prerecorded expert-led education videos, mind-body skills training and practice, and group discussions. The principal investigators are Diana Burgess and Roni Evans of the University of Minnesota and Katherine Hadlandsmyth of the University of Iowa. The study is supported by NINR. Learn more about RAMP.

Learn more about the NIH Collaboratory Trials.

January 16, 2024: Ethics Consultation Documents Now Available for AIM-CP and MOMs Chat & Care Study

Posted on by Damon Seils

Ethics and regulatory onboarding documentation for 2 of the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory's newest trials is now available. The documents include meeting minutes and supplementary materials summarizing recent discussions of ethics and regulatory issues associated with the AIM-CP trial and the MOMs Chat & Care Study.

The consultations took place by video conference and included representation from the studies' principal investigators, members of the NIH Collaboratory's Ethics and Regulatory Core, NIH staff, and NIH Collaboratory Coordinating Center personnel.

AIM-CP will test a care management program to address inequities in access to nonpharmacological treatment for chronic pain in rural populations.

The MOMs Chat & Care Study will test the effectiveness of an integrated care model approach at 2 levels of intensity designed to facilitate timely, appropriate care for Black patients to reduce their risk for severe maternal morbidity.

Ethics and regulatory documentation for all of the NIH Collaboratory Trials is available on our Data and Resource Sharing page.

November 1, 2023 Virtual Onboarding Meeting: iPATH, AIM-CP, I CAN DO Surgical ACP, MOMS, RAMP, and ARBOR-Telehealth

NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory Onboarding Meeting

November 1, 2023
Virtual

Purpose

Welcome the new UG3 and R01 NIH Collaboratory Trials; provide introductions and an overview of the NIH Collaboratory program; hear from the new UG3 and R01 project teams; and discuss lessons learned from the seasoned NIH Collaboratory Trial investigators.

Welcome and Opening Remarks
Wendy Weber, ND, PhD, MPH
Lesley Curtis, PhD

Overview of the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory and a Cooperative Agreement
Beda Jean-Francois, PhD

NIH Collaboratory Coordinating Center: Overview and Goals
Lesley Curtis, PhD

Program Policies and Guidance Documents
Rich Platt, MD, MSc
Gina Uhlenbrauck

Discussion of New NIH Collaboratory Trials

  • iPATH
    Sara Singer, PhD, MBA
  • AIM-CP
    Sebastian Tong, MD, MPH
    Kushang Patel, Phd, MPH
  • MOMs
    Stephanie Fitzpatrick, PhD
  • RAMP
    Diana Burgess, PhD
    Roni Evans, DC, MS, PhD
    Katherine Hadlandsmyth, PhD

Lessons Learned From Seasoned NIH Collaboratory Trials
Moderator: Lesley Curtis, PhD

Panel:

  • Lynn Debar, PhD
  • Angelo Volandes, MD, MPH
  • Susan Huang, MD, MPH
  • Michael Ho, MD, PhD
  • Kathleen Sluka, PT, PhD
  • Andrea Cheville, MD

Closing Remarks
Beda Jean-Francois, PhD
Lesley Curtis, PhD