A practical plan to help colorectal cancer survivors keep up with surveillance tests
Official title: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of an Intervention to Promote Guideline-Concordant Colorectal Cancer Surveillance
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11371163 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A practical trial tests a support program called CTAC to help colorectal cancer survivors and their caregivers stay on track with recommended follow-up tests.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $491,443 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA293394-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371163 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
CRC survivors who finished initial treatment and have a caregiver or supporter involved in their care.
✕Less likely to help
Sectors of survivorship care not involving surveillance knowledge or caregiver engagement may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a caregiver-inclusive program (CTAC) designed to boost survivors’ and supporters’ knowledge and confidence about colorectal cancer surveillance. It uses real-world community oncology clinics across the country to see if CTAC improves adherence to surveillance tests and imaging. The study emphasizes how well the program can be implemented in diverse practice settings while measuring knowledge, self-efficacy, and actual surveillance uptake. Participants include CRC survivors and their supporters, with data collected to understand what helps or hinders using the program in practice.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, CTAC could increase timely surveillance, potentially catching recurrences earlier and improving outcomes for survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous related efforts have shown that education and caregiver involvement can improve self-efficacy and follow-up behaviors, though broader national implementation remains to be proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Veenstra, Christine — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Veenstra, Christine
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.