Increasing participation in colorectal cancer genetics
Participant Engagement Unit
This program works to make it easier for people with colorectal cancer from diverse backgrounds to join and stay in genetic studies so their tumors and DNA can be better understood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11192763 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team is building better ways to invite, consent, and keep people with colorectal cancer involved in genomic work by using approaches shaped by participants and best-practice methods. They will improve communication, follow-up, and sample collection processes and benchmark what works across sites. The effort focuses on enrolling more people from underrepresented groups and linking clinical records with genomic data. Partner clinics and active follow-up are used to reduce drop-out and make participation easier.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with colorectal cancer who are willing to share medical records, provide biospecimens or genetic samples, and participate in follow-up communications—especially those from underrepresented communities—are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without colorectal cancer or those unwilling to provide consent, samples, or follow-up information are unlikely to benefit directly, and this program does not offer direct treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could produce richer genetic and clinical data across diverse groups that may lead to better screening, diagnosis, and tailored treatments for colorectal cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Previous participant-engagement programs have improved enrollment in some settings, but comprehensive genomic representation for colorectal cancer remains limited, so this builds on promising yet incomplete successes.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stern, Mariana C — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Stern, Mariana C
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 below.