Cancer at the Crossroads: Turning Community Context into Action for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Official title: Cancer at the Crossroads: Translating Social Contexts into Actionable Insights for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Care (CROSS)
Funded at Augusta University · NIH-11436904 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how neighborhood and community factors affect when and how early-onset colorectal cancer is diagnosed and treated, with a focus on improving outcomes for people under 50.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Augusta University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $395,973 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA317745-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11436904 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals diagnosed with colorectal cancer under age 50, living in diverse California communities, whose area-level social determinants can be linked to health outcomes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside the EOCRC group or those not connected to the studied community factors may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will combine cancer registry data with community health indicators to see how area-level social determinants influence survival, treatment start, and use of genetic testing in young colorectal cancer patients. It will identify which subgroups are most affected by adverse community factors and compare those under 50 to those 50 and older. The findings could guide targeted outreach and resources to improve timely care and precision prevention for EOCRC. The work involves analyzing large, existing datasets to uncover patterns that could inform future interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could pinpoint which communities need more rapid diagnosis and access to treatment and genetic testing for EOCRC, helping design targeted programs to reduce mortality.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown that social determinants influence cancer outcomes, but this project aims to integrate multiple SDoH dimensions specifically for EOCRC within a comprehensive framework.
Where this research is happening
-
Augusta University
Augusta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tsai, Meng-Han — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Tsai, Meng-Han
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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Colorectal cancer prognosis through a broad, collaborative study
A large, multi-center study follows people newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer to find biomarkers and patterns that predict outcomes and guide future care.
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Ceramides and how they affect metabolism and colorectal cancer in adults
A study in adults with obesity-related health issues will explore how a fat-related molecule called ceramide influences metabolic problems and colorectal cancer risk.
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Automated point-of-care DNA methylation test for colorectal cancer in LMICs
A fast, affordable blood test using DNA markers to help identify people at higher risk of colorectal cancer in low- and middle-income countries.
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Rewiring Colorectal Cancer to Harness Therapeutic Hyperactivation
A Yale team is exploring brain-storming new ways to treat colorectal cancer by safely boosting certain cancer signaling pathways to kill cancer cells and by reshaping cancer cell states to improve responses to existing therapies.
-
Comparative modeling to guide colorectal cancer screening and care
A researcher team will use computer models to study how access to care, risk, and new screening options affect colorectal cancer outcomes and costs for adults in the US.
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.