Guidelines and toolkit to roll out population-wide genetic screening for cancer risk
Official title: Facilitating the Implementation of Population-wide Genomic Screening (FOCUS)
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11422374 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study aims to create and test an online toolkit to help clinics implement population-wide genetic screening for hereditary cancer and cholesterol risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $683,205 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HG013851-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11422374 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults in various healthcare settings who are eligible for population-wide genomic screening for hereditary cancer syndromes and familial hypercholesterolemia.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not participating in screening programs or those without access to genomic testing resources may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on making it easier for health systems to offer genetic screening to broad populations. It will gather input from existing programs, map best-practice steps, and develop a freely accessible toolkit to support implementation. The work involves stakeholder input, mapping, and testing a multicomponent guide to put genomic screening into practice. The goal is to standardize processes so more diverse people can benefit from early detection of hereditary risks. Results will inform how clinics and organizations adopt these screening programs in real-world settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive earlier information about hereditary risks and access to preventive care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests that structured implementation guides can support adoption of genomic screening, though a generalizable toolkit is still being developed.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Allen, Caitlin Gloeckner — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Allen, Caitlin Gloeckner
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.