Helping childhood cancer survivors and their primary care doctors increase colorectal cancer screening
Official title: The ASPIRES Study: Activating Cancer Survivors and their Primary Care Providers to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening
Funded at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · NIH-11326096 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A remote digital program will help childhood cancer survivors aged 30 and older and their primary care doctors get recommended colorectal cancer screening.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2021 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $567,763 |
| NIH project number | 7R01CA255269-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326096 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 30 or older who survived childhood cancer and received abdominal or pelvic radiotherapy, especially those not up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening, are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
This would likely not help people under age 30, survivors who did not have abdominal/pelvic radiation, or those already current with recommended colorectal screening.
What this research studies
You would join a remote program aimed at survivors who had abdominal or pelvic radiation as children and are now at least 30 years old. People will be randomly placed into one of three groups receiving different digital prompts and support: patient-focused activation, patient plus primary care provider activation, or usual care. The study plans to enroll about 315 survivors and uses messages, tools, and follow-up to encourage colonoscopy or stool-based testing when appropriate. The team tracks whether participants complete recommended colorectal cancer screening and follow-up care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could raise colorectal cancer screening rates and help detect precancerous polyps or cancer earlier in high-risk survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Digital patient-activation programs have improved screening in other populations, but this is the first trial testing this specific approach for childhood cancer survivors at high colorectal cancer risk.
Where this research is happening
-
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Henderson, Tara Olive — Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Henderson, Tara Olive
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Helping childhood cancer survivors and their doctors improve colorectal cancer screening
This study is looking to help childhood cancer survivors who had radiation treatment in their belly or pelvis and are at a higher risk for colorectal cancer by using a digital program to encourage them and their doctors to follow screening guidelines better.
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Improving colorectal cancer screening for diabetes patients in community health centers
This study is looking at how to make colorectal cancer screening easier and more effective for people with diabetes, especially those in low-income communities, so everyone can get the preventive care they need, no matter their background.
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Improving colorectal cancer screening and follow-up care.
This study is working to help more people get screened for colorectal cancer and receive the follow-up care they need, especially those who haven't been screened much before, so that everyone can have better access to important health checks and improve their overall health.
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Making colorectal cancer screening easier and more likely to happen
This project uses default options, simpler choices, and direct outreach to help average-risk adults who are overdue complete colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy or stool tests.
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AI/AN Tailoring of a Home-Based Cervical and Colorectal Cancer Screening Program
A tailored, home-based cancer screening program helps AI/AN adults screen for cervical and colorectal cancer from home using self-collection tests and culturally aligned education.
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Bringing colorectal cancer screening to adults 45–54 who haven’t been screened
A grant to help low-income adults aged 45–54 start colorectal cancer screening through the Boston area’s community health centers.
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.