Community health workers and Black churches boosting colorectal cancer screening and heart-healthy habits
Project 3-Community Health workers United to Reduce Colorectal cancer and CVD among people at Higher risk (CHURCH)
This program uses trusted community health workers and church-based programs to help Black adults get colorectal cancer screening and adopt healthier lifestyles to lower heart disease risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11380515 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would work with community health workers from your church who help arrange colorectal cancer screening and follow-up using a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) approach. The program also offers a web-based lifestyle program called "Alive!" to support heart-healthy diet and activity habits linked to colorectal cancer risk. The intervention is culturally tailored for African American church communities and is delivered in participating churches and online. Columbia University researchers run the project and partner with local churches to enroll adults and track screening and risk-factor changes over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are African American adults aged 21 and older who attend participating Black churches or live in the study area and are overdue for colorectal cancer screening or have cardiovascular risk factors.
Not a fit: People under 21, those not connected to participating church communities or study sites, or those already up-to-date with screening and with well-controlled heart-risk factors may not gain benefit from joining.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase timely colorectal cancer screening, catch cancers earlier, and lower both colorectal cancer and cardiovascular risk for Black adults.
How similar studies have performed: Previous community health worker and church-based programs have improved cancer screening and health behaviors, but combining colorectal cancer screening with a web-based heart-health program is a newer approach with less direct evidence.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Olajide — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Williams, Olajide
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.