ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation announced on Tuesday that it is accepting applications for community impact project proposals that seek to improve inequities, increase access to care for underserved populations and advance public health.

The NACDS Foundation aims to improve the health and wellbeing of communities in America by sustainably supporting groundbreaking research that enhances health outcomes, equity and public health.

Through this Request for Proposals, the NACDS Foundation is looking to support innovative projects that explore solutions to pressing public health problems facing diverse and underserved communities in the U.S.

Specifically, the Foundation is soliciting research proposals that address at least one of the following issues:

• Enhancing access to mental health screening and support;

• Implementing innovative approaches to chronic disease prevention and
management;

• Preventing and reducing impact from infectious diseases.

The NACDS Foundation is also seeking research that emphasizes each of the following interests: impact on health outcomes; scalability; sustainability; use of current or novel technology; and relevance.

“Through this exciting Request for Proposals launch, the NACDS Foundation has a wonderful opportunity to jumpstart a new pipeline of groundbreaking community research,” said NACDS Foundation president Sara Roszak. “With equity at the forefront of everything we do, it is so important to prioritize forward-thinking, community- centered projects that address current gaps in healthcare access and other social determinants of health — particularly to better serve diverse and underserved communities. Together with our research partners and donors, the Foundation is helping to inform creative solutions that address some of the most pressing public health issues.

“We are excited to launch the next chapter of the Foundation’s innovative research, and to do so in alignment with the Foundation’s mission to enhance health outcomes, foster equity, strengthen access to care and advance public health.”

Importantly, the NACDS Foundation is committed to fostering health equity and addressing disparities. This Request for Proposals emphasizes the importance of
addressing social determinants of health and recognizing the major role they play in the health of communities. In particular, access to healthcare and nutritious foods has a strong impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals.

The NACDS Foundation views its pursuit of research as an example of alignment with its support of the CDC Foundation’s efforts to end hunger and increase healthy eating and physical activity across the U.S. by 2030. The NACDS Foundation notes that independent and objective research can help to explore the implementation of innovative approaches to the prevention and management of diet-related chronic disease in community pharmacies and in retail health settings.

RFP applicants will have the opportunity to choose whether they would like to use a
prospective or retrospective approach for their research method. Prospective research projects would have a timeline of two to three years — with awardees receiving up to a $750,000 grant. Retrospective research projects would have a timeline of one to two years — with awardees receiving up to a $250,000 grant.

Awards will be announced no later than December 23, 2022.