Bringing colorectal cancer screening to adults 45–54 who haven’t been screened
Official title: Initiating Colorectal Cancer Screening in Unscreened Individuals 45 to 54
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11399873 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A grant to help low-income adults aged 45–54 start colorectal cancer screening through the Boston area’s community health centers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 13, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $197,640 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA285952-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399873 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 45–54 who are served by community health centers and have not yet started CRC screening.
✕Less likely to help
Adults outside the 45–54 age range or not receiving care at CHCs may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This program supports a clinician-researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital to develop and test practical ways to get unscreened adults aged 45–54 to begin colorectal cancer screening. It uses mixed methods to understand the barriers and enablers within community health centers and designs implementation strategies that fit real-world clinic workflows. The focus is on translating evidence-based screening approaches into resources and processes that CHCs can adopt to reach more patients. The work is mentored to become an independent investigator focused on reducing colorectal cancer disparities in low-income populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more adults 45–54 in low-income communities could start CRC screening earlier, potentially reducing mortality.
How similar studies have gone: Previous implementation projects show that tailored clinic strategies can improve screening uptake in underserved populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anyane-Yeboa, Adjoa — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Anyane-Yeboa, Adjoa
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving colorectal cancer screening and follow-up care.
This study is working to help more people get screened for colorectal cancer and receive the follow-up care they need, especially those who haven't been screened much before, so that everyone can have better access to important health checks and improve their overall health.
-
Making colorectal cancer screening easier and more likely to happen
This project uses default options, simpler choices, and direct outreach to help average-risk adults who are overdue complete colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy or stool tests.
-
AI/AN Tailoring of a Home-Based Cervical and Colorectal Cancer Screening Program
A tailored, home-based cancer screening program helps AI/AN adults screen for cervical and colorectal cancer from home using self-collection tests and culturally aligned education.
-
Increasing follow-up colonoscopies after a positive FIT in community clinics
Aims to help people with abnormal stool tests for colorectal cancer get timely follow-up colonoscopies in safety-net clinics.
-
Colorectal cancer screening with real-time imaging that may replace sedated scopes
Researchers are testing a new imaging method called optical coherence tomography (OCT) to spot and treat colon polyps without the need for sedation during a screening colonoscopy.
-
Promoting follow-up after abnormal colorectal cancer screening in safety-net systems
A multilevel program will help people in safety-net hospitals complete follow-up colonoscopy after an abnormal stool test.
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.