Improving cancer diagnosis for marginalized patients
Official title: ACHIEVING BETTER CANCER DIAGNOSIS (ABCD): Identifying, supporting, and learning from marginalized patients who experience delayed cancer diagnosis
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10927259 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about finding ways to help people, especially those from underserved communities, get faster and better cancer diagnoses by listening to their experiences and working with experts to make the healthcare system more supportive and fair.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | September 29, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $937,325 |
| NIH project number | 5R18HS029344-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10927259 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are marginalized patients who have experienced delays in cancer diagnosis due to various barriers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced delays in cancer diagnosis or do not face barriers related to social determinants of health may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to understand and address the delays in cancer diagnosis, particularly for marginalized patients who may face additional barriers such as social determinants of health, racism, and language issues. By creating a Diagnostic Center of Excellence, the project will gather insights from patients about their experiences and the challenges they faced in getting timely diagnoses. The research will involve collaboration with national experts to identify systemic issues and develop strategies to improve diagnostic safety and transparency in healthcare. The ultimate goal is to empower patients to voice their concerns and improve the overall diagnostic process.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier cancer diagnoses and better health outcomes for marginalized patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has highlighted the importance of patient perspectives in improving healthcare outcomes, suggesting that this approach could yield meaningful insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schiff, Gordon David — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Schiff, Gordon David
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeted therapies for glioblastoma in adults and kids
A large NIH program is exploring new brain cancer therapies, including drugs that reach the brain and work against glioblastoma in both children and adults.
-
Statins to Prevent Cancer-Associated Blood Clots in Cancer Patients
A large study will test whether taking rosuvastatin every day for a year can lower the chance of dangerous blood clots in people with cancer, without raising the risk of bleeding.
-
Preterm infant body composition and early-life health after NICU stay
This grant studies how body composition in very preterm babies relates to later brain development and risk of obesity or diabetes, with findings meant to improve care from NICU through early childhood.
-
Rapid Emergency Skills for Prehospital Optimization and Delivery (RESPOND) for Guatemala
A lightweight, AI-enabled prehospital training and triage program helps volunteer firefighters in Guatemala deliver faster, better care to trauma patients.
-
Rapid Emergency Skills for Prehospital Optimization and Notification in Guatemala
A mobile, AI-powered training and triage program helps volunteer emergency responders in Guatemala provide faster, safer trauma care and notify hospitals more quickly.
-
Understanding antibiotic allergy to improve care for patients
Scientists are testing new ideas to understand why some people develop severe allergic reactions to antibiotics and how to prevent or treat them.
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.