Health Equity Challenge

Amgen is launching the Amgen Health Equity Challenge ("Challenge") to identify promising and scalable solutions to help improve patient outcomes aligned to Amgen's health equity strategy. The Challenge supports community-based, non-profit organizations that are advancing health equity among historically underserved communities through unique, innovative approaches that demonstrate action, measurability, scalability, and sustainability.

Background

Cardiovascular health disparities impacting the Black community in the US are well-documented. For example, nearly half of all Black American adults have some form of heart disease and are 32% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease^1,2 The most common conditions that increase the risk for heart disease and stroke among Black Americans are high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes.¹ This also includes a higher incidence of dyslipidemia (total cholesterol ≥240 mg/dL, LDL ≥160 mg/dL, HDL ≤40 mg/dL, or use of lipid-lowering medications) in Black Americans over the age of 45 than in their white counterparts.⁵ The literature continues to point to the Southern U.S. as a location where disparities in cardiovascular disease remain the highest⁴ and that care navigation, including community-based health workers, can lead to significant improvements in cardiovascular disease risk factors and management.³ Thus, there is an opportunity to engage our external partners to close the gap in cardiovascular disease disparities among Black Americans.

Amgen Health Equity Challenge Objectives

The 2023 Challenge will focus on reducing health disparities in cardiovascular disease in Black adults living in Florida by leveraging care navigation services* in the following areas**:

• Education and Awareness: Support equitable access to appropriate education about the urgency of testing and treating high cholesterol to help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Incorporate care navigation services to increase the level of awareness around testing and treatments to improve outcomes.
• Access: Improve access to regular cholesterol testing, screening, and appropriate treatments. Additionally, identify interventions to assist patients in overcoming treatment barriers resulting from lack of insurance, under-insurance, or other cost barriers.

Amgen invites proposals from 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations across the U.S. for the Challenge. The Challenge will award up to $500,000 in funding to selected eligible recipients. Awards may range from $10,000 - $100,000 total and will be announced and distributed in 2023.

All proposals submitted for consideration must be received via email to AmgenHealthEquityChallenge@amgen.com by March 8, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. PST.

Download the Submission Guide for more details

Questions? Please reach out to AmgenHealthEquityChallenge@amgen.com

References