Mizzou’s new telehealth research project aims to make healthcare more accessible
SEPTEMBER 9, 2025
Dima Dandachi, MD
A new telehealth research project has arrived in Missouri!
Dima Dandachi, MD, co-director of the Midwest D-CFAR's Scientific Working Group and infectious disease physician at the University of Missouri is deputy director of this new center, known as the Center for Telehealth Research and Policy (C-TRaP), alongside primary investigator Mirna Becevic, PhD. Funded by a Telehealth Research Grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, the five-year project started this month and will run until 2030.
Mirna Becevic, PhD
C-TRaP will conduct five interrelated studies with the goal of integrating machine learning, federated data science, and implementation research to develop predictive, secure, and generalizable tools for evaluating and optimizing rural telehealth delivery.
"We applied for this grant because telehealth has become a vital tool in addressing healthcare disparities, especially in underserved communities," said Dandachi. "There is still much to learn about how telehealth can be optimized to improve access and outcomes, particularly for populations that face barriers to in-person care."
C-TRaP's unique approach fills a critical void in the literature by moving beyond descriptive analysis and focusing on evidence-based, actionable insights. "Our goal is to generate robust, evidence-based insights on how telehealth is being used across different specialties and populations, and to identify policies and practices that can reduce inequities in access and care," Dandachi added. "We want to understand not only what works, but also for whom it works best."
For people living with HIV in Missouri, telehealth has the potential to reduce geographic and transportation barriers to health care, support continuity of care, and expand access to specialized services. Dandachi expects that what is learned through this project will inform strategies to ensure equitable access to HIV care and prevention services in both rural and urban communities.
Written by April Houston.