The emergence of a novel coronavirus, now known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2), has resulted in human disease (COVID-19) that has swept the globe in pandemic proportions with more than eight million confirmed cases and >440,000 deaths to date. Surges of COVID-19 have occurred throughout the United States (US) with urban centers such as New York City and New Orleans hardest hit. COVID-19 clinical descriptions have evolved from what was initially felt to be a respiratory illness to a multisystem disease with protean manifestations. Moreover, disparities in outcomes have been described with African Americans having higher infection and mortality rates. Populations residing in rural areas are often poorer, older, and have multiple co-morbidities such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, raising questions about disease manifestations and outcomes that may differ from those described in urban areas. COVID-19 cases and mortality in rural areas continue to climb with multiple outbreaks, many of which have been related to meatpacking plants and prison clusters. The National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) has been established by the National Center for Data to Health (CD2H) in partnership with the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) for purposes of building a centralized national data resource for the study of COVID-19. As N3C will facilitate translation of data into knowledge urgently needed to effectively address the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critically important that this resource contains patient outcomes data from diverse populations throughout the US – both urban and rural – with the inclusion of populations of color, Native Americans, and others. The Institutional Development Award Program Clinical Translational Research Centers (IDeA CTRs) are located in diverse areas of the US, serving rural populations as well as other vulnerable groups, including Native Americans and persons of color. IDeA CTRs are well poised to provide outcomes data that relate to a diverse group of medically underserved persons that may otherwise not receive adequate representation in the N3C. Specifically, eight IDeA CTRs located in Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and West Virginia have established relationships with healthcare organizations that have, to date, have conducted SARS CoV-2 testing among more than 285,000 persons, of whom more than 25,000 have tested positive. This project will enable the rapid contribution of COVID-19 patient data from IDeA states to N3C, enhancing understanding of COVID-19 in the US and driving further research addressing COVID-19 patient outcomes in multiple underserved populations.

Disease from a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been devastating. The National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) has been established by the National Center for Data to Health for purpose of building a centralized national data resource for the study of COVID-19. It is critically important that this resource contains data from diverse populations throughout the US with the inclusion of populations of color, native Americans, and others. This project will enable the rapid contribution of COVID-19 patient data to N3C from Clinical and Translational Research Centers in eight states, including Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and West Virginia, enhancing understanding of COVID-19 in the US and driving further research addressing COVID- 19 patient outcomes in multiple underserved populations.