Better ways to reach LGBTQ+ people with cancer

Testing Effective Methods to Recruit Sexual and Gender Minority Cancer Patients for Cancer Studies

NIH-funded research University of Minnesota · NIH-11364813

This project tries different ways to reach and sign up LGBTQ+ people with cancer so they can take part in cancer studies.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Minnesota NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Minneapolis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11364813 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you've had cancer and identify as LGBTQ+, this project will test two main ways to find and invite people like you: online outreach and using sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) entries in clinic records. The team will build on past success recruiting over 400 gay and bisexual prostate cancer patients and will expand to include sexual minority women and transgender or non-binary cancer patients. Some people may be contacted through online ads or social networks, while others may be reached through participating cancer clinics that collect SOGI information in electronic medical records. The goal is to find reliable, respectful ways to include more LGBTQ+ people in cancer research.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with a current or past cancer diagnosis who identify as a sexual minority (gay, bisexual, lesbian) or as transgender or non-binary are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without a cancer diagnosis or who do not identify as sexual or gender minorities are unlikely to be eligible or directly helped by this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, more LGBTQ+ patients could be included in cancer studies, leading to research that better reflects their needs and improves care.

How similar studies have performed: Related online and clinic-based recruitment methods have successfully enrolled large samples of gay and bisexual prostate cancer patients, but applying these methods to sexual minority women and transgender/non-binary patients is newer.

Where this research is happening

Minneapolis, 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 Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome VirusCancer Burden
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.