Grants

Maremoto

The Unit leads the training project "Making Research in Multidisciplinary Oncological Treatment Organizations – MaReMoTo." Dr. Cinzia Gradellini conceived this project. The training, funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program, focuses on qualitative research methodology applied to cancer survivorship and patient engagement in healthcare research. Thirty-two healthcare professionals from various disciplines, specifically selected from different partner centers of the project, are participating in the training. These centers include:

• Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri” – IRCCS in Milan, Italy;
• Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha in Spain;
• Università “St. Kliment Ohridski” in Bitola, North Macedonia.

Erasmus+ is the European Union's program in the fields of Education, Training, Youth, and Sport for the period 2021-2027. Erasmus+ supports the priorities and activities established by the European Education Area, the Digital Education Action Plan, and the European Skills Agenda.

PROMS

The Qualitative Research and Citizen Science Unit collaborates with the Patient Reported Outcomes for Multiple Sclerosis global initiative (https://proms-initiative.org). The Patient Reported Outcome for Multiple Sclerosis (PROMS) Initiative is a multi-stakeholder initiative jointly led and coordinated by the European Charcot Foundation (ECF) and Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF), with the Italian MS Society Foundation (FISM) acting as the lead agency on behalf and for the MS movement. In particular, the Working Group n.1 (WG1) Research, Development and Validation funds the Unit to perform a survey and a Delphi study. WG1 aims to prioritize functional domains that matter most to People with and affected by MS (PwMS) and identify gaps and research needs (i.e., do we have PROMs for the domains of the functions that matter most to PwMS? Do available PROMS meet the expectations and prioritizations of PwMS emerged by the Survey and Delphi? Etc.).

Drepano-donors

Funded by the 5x1000 initiative of the Azienda USL-IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, the study titled "Improving Care for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: A Multi-Stakeholder Project with and for Individuals of Sub-Saharan African Origin" aims to understand the barriers and facilitators to blood donation perceived by individuals of Sub-Saharan African origin. The goal is to establish the groundwork for effective and culturally sensitive communication by stakeholders. Additionally, the study has received a donation from AVIS – Reggio Emilia.

Better-B qual

Funded within Horizon 2020 (No. 825319), the Unit conducted a qualitative study embedded within the clinical trial titled: "BETter TreatmEnts for Refractory Breathlessness" (BETTER-B). There are few effective pharmacological treatments for chronic dyspnea, creating a significant unmet need that requires new approaches that are not only effective but also acceptable to patients and easy to implement. The main BETTER-B study aims to address this need by determining whether the antidepressant mirtazapine plays a role in managing refractory dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or interstitial lung disease. The qualitative study aims to explore participants' opinions (patients and caregivers) in the main BETTER-B study. The study will delve into what participants understand, perceive, and feel regarding the treatment in the main study.