Improving lung cancer screening access for Black Veterans through community outreach
Official title: Co-Design and Pilot Testing of Peer-led Community Outreach to Improve Equity, Veteran-Centeredness and Uptake of Lung Cancer Screening
Funded at VA Boston Health Care System · NIH-11000257 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to help Black Veterans get better access to lung cancer screenings by creating a friendly program where trained peers will provide support and information to make the process easier and more trustworthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Boston Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I21HX003712-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11000257 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Black Veterans who are eligible for lung cancer screening but have not yet participated.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not Veterans or those who have already undergone lung cancer screening may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance lung cancer screening among Black Veterans by addressing barriers to access and awareness. It involves co-designing a peer-led outreach program that utilizes trained community peers to educate and support Veterans in navigating the screening process. The program will focus on building trust and providing tailored assistance to overcome stigma and misinformation about lung cancer. By engaging directly with the community, the initiative seeks to improve screening rates and ultimately reduce lung cancer mortality.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase lung cancer screening rates among Black Veterans, leading to earlier detection and improved survival outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that community-based peer support can effectively improve health outcomes and access to care, suggesting a promising approach for this initiative.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Boston Health Care System
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wiener, Renda Soylemez — VA Boston Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Wiener, Renda Soylemez
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
Integrated approach to lung screening and quitting for African Americans
A multi-level program aims to boost LDCT lung cancer screening uptake and help African American smokers quit, with support from a comprehensive community-focused plan.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Proteogenomic framework to improve lung cancer screening with biomarkers
A biomarker-based approach aims to refine LDCT lung cancer screening so more cancers are caught early while reducing unnecessary procedures.
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.