Choosing the best way to pick people for lung cancer screening
Cost-Effectiveness of Lung Cancer Screening Strategies For All Populations
['FUNDING_R21'] · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11193965
This project compares three ways of deciding who should get low-dose CT scans so more high-risk people are found early while using health care resources wisely.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (WINSTON-SALEM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11193965 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you're someone worried about lung cancer because of age or smoking history, this work looks at who would be invited for low-dose CT screening under three common approaches: USPSTF rules, American Cancer Society rules, and a risk model called PLCOm2012. The team will use real-world data and a cost-effectiveness framework to estimate benefits, harms, and costs across different age and smoking groups. They will look at trade-offs like how many cancers are found, false alarms, and how much screening costs the health system. The goal is to build an easy-to-use decision tool so health leaders can choose the best screening approach for different communities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People most relevant are adults with a history of smoking or other lung cancer risk factors—typically middle-aged and older adults who might meet current screening criteria.
Not a fit: People with very low or no lung cancer risk (for example lifelong non-smokers) or those without access to screening services are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help more people at true risk get screened earlier while reducing unnecessary scans and spending.
How similar studies have performed: Low-dose CT screening has been shown to reduce lung cancer deaths and risk models like PLCOm2012 have promising evidence, but direct comparisons of cost-effectiveness across real-world U.S. populations are still limited.
Where this research is happening
WINSTON-SALEM, UNITED STATES
- WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES — WINSTON-SALEM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LIN, MENG-YUN — WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: LIN, MENG-YUN
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 below.
Conditions: American Cancer Society, Cancer Cause, Cancer Detection, Cancer Etiology