Santacroce awarded NIH R21 grant for study on medically tailored meals for pediatric patients

Sheila Santacroce, PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN, has been awarded an NIH R21 grant of $424,804 for her project titled, “Feasibility of Medically Tailored Meals for Pediatric Populations at Risk for Disparities in Serious Illness Outcomes due to Inequities in Food-Related Social Drivers of Health.”

The study focuses on addressing disparities in health outcomes among pediatric patients experiencing serious illnesses, such as cancer, who are also affected by food and nutrition insecurity. These insecurities are recognized as key social drivers of health disparities in pediatric populations.

Previous approaches, like providing gift cards for online grocery delivery, have shown that families often cope with financial burdens by purchasing lower-cost foods with poor nutritional value. Some families make sacrifices, including going without food themselves, to prioritize the needs of the child who is ill. This creates additional health risks for both parents and siblings.

Dr. Santacroce’s project aims to explore a more holistic model of care that integrates food and nutrition with state-of-the-science clinical care. By focusing on Medically Tailored Meals (MTM)—home-delivered meals customized to the medical needs of individuals facing social and economic barriers to preparing healthy food—the study will investigate whether this “Food is Medicine” approach can improve health outcomes in pediatric populations.

Studies in adults have already shown that MTM interventions can lead to better health outcomes and reduced healthcare spending. This research will explore the potential of this approach in pediatric patients to address food insecurity-related disparities in serious illness outcomes.

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