A personalized approach to preventing skin cancer in teenagers

A personalized approach to skin cancer prevention among adolescents

NIH-funded research University of Utah · NIH-10806226

This study is creating a fun and engaging sun safety program just for teens to help them understand the importance of protecting their skin from the sun and the dangers of tanning, and it will be tested in schools with over 10,000 students to see how well it works compared to regular lessons.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Utah NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Salt Lake City, United States)
Project IDNIH-10806226 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a tailored skin cancer prevention program specifically for adolescents, addressing their unique behaviors and attitudes towards sun protection and tanning. The program will be implemented in schools, where students will receive education on both sun safety and the risks of intentional tanning. It includes engaging content for parents and teachers to reinforce the messages at home. The effectiveness of this intervention will be tested in a large trial involving over 10,000 students across multiple schools, comparing it to standard educational approaches.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 18 who attend participating schools and are at risk for skin cancer due to poor sun protection habits.

Not a fit: Patients outside the age range of 12 to 18 or those who do not attend the participating schools may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve sun protection behaviors among adolescents, reducing their risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success with school-based interventions for younger children, but this personalized approach for adolescents is novel.

Where this research is happening

Salt Lake City, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Cancersneoplasm/cancerSkin Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.