Digital tools to increase lung cancer screening at free community clinics
Official title: Digital Health Implementation Strategies to Improve Lung Cancer Screening Among Safety-Net Clinics
Funded at Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · NIH-11186962 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will use digital outreach and a centralized hub to help people who smoke at free clinics get yearly low-dose CT lung cancer screening.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $299,998 |
| NIH project number | 5U48DP006855-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11186962 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who are current or former smokers who meet USPSTF lung cancer screening criteria and receive care at the participating Utah safety-net/free clinics.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not meet lung cancer screening eligibility (for example, never-smokers or those below the age or pack-year thresholds) or who do not attend the participating clinics are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
The project partners with three Utah free clinics over three years and uses digital outreach, eligibility checks, and care coordination through a centralized hub to connect patients with low-dose CT screening. Researchers will collect clinic data before and after the program and gather staff and patient feedback using mixed methods. The approach is built into existing clinic workflows and focuses on clinics serving low-income and Latino patients. The team aims to identify practical implementation strategies that help clinics find eligible patients, send reminders, and support appointments for screening.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help more eligible people in under-resourced clinics get screened earlier, which may detect cancer sooner and reduce deaths.
How similar studies have gone: Previous programs using navigation and reminders have improved screening rates, but using centralized digital hubs in free clinics is a newer approach with limited prior testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Estabrooks, Paul — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Estabrooks, Paul
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Digital health strategies to expand lung cancer screening in safety-net clinics
A funded project aims to help low-resource clinics increase the use of lung cancer screening for patients who smoke or are at risk.
-
Improving lung cancer screening in underserved clinics
This study is working to make lung cancer screenings easier to access for low-income and underserved communities in Utah, so more people can get the help they need to catch lung cancer early.
-
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Population health approach to boost lung cancer screening at community clinics
A large Utah project aims to help community clinics reach more eligible adults to get low-dose CT lung cancer screening.
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Group-based tobacco treatment for older adults after lung cancer screening
A study tests a group-based tobacco cessation program for older adults who are getting lung cancer screening to help them quit smoking.
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Personalized Lung Cancer Screening for Veterans
Aimed at improving who gets screened and how lung cancer is diagnosed among Veterans using personalized tools.
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.