Colorectal cancer screening at community pharmacies
Expanding access to colorectal cancer screening through community pharmacies: The PharmFIT study
This project offers at-home stool tests (FIT) through neighborhood pharmacies to help adults 21 and older get screened for colorectal cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251595 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You could pick up an at-home FIT (stool) test at a participating community pharmacy and get help from pharmacists and study staff on how to use it. The program includes mailed or pharmacy-distributed kits, follow-up of test results, and help arranging diagnostic colonoscopy if a test is positive. The team focuses on reaching medically underserved people who miss screening during regular clinic visits and works with regional practice networks to deliver the program. This builds on earlier pilot work showing pharmacy-based FIT delivery is acceptable and feasible.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults age 21 and older who are due or overdue for colorectal cancer screening, especially those who use participating community pharmacies or live in underserved areas, would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People already up-to-date with colorectal screening, those with urgent symptoms needing immediate clinical evaluation, or individuals unable to collect stool samples are unlikely to benefit from this pharmacy-based FIT program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could increase screening for colorectal cancer in underserved communities and help detect cancers earlier, reducing deaths from CRC.
How similar studies have performed: Previous small pilots and national guidelines support FIT distribution outside clinics and early pharmacy pilots showed feasibility, but large-scale pharmacy-based implementation is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brenner, Alison T — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Brenner, Alison T
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.