Making colorectal cancer screening easier and more automatic
Official title: Behavioral Economic Approaches for Population-based Colorectal Cancer Screening
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11235900 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project compares two ways of inviting adults overdue for colorectal cancer screening—using doctor prompts and outreach—to help more people complete screening.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | December 17, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $637,611 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA258893-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11235900 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at average risk for colorectal cancer who are overdue for screening and receive care at one of the participating primary care practices are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are already up-to-date with screening, those at high risk who need specialized care pathways, or anyone who does not get care at participating clinics are unlikely to benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This effort works with University of Pennsylvania primary care clinics to set up a centralized program that uses clinician prompts in the electronic health record plus direct outreach to patients. Clinics are randomized to either offer only colonoscopy or to offer colonoscopy first and then a stool-based FIT test for people who decline, and outreach messages use behavioral nudges like opt-out framing and simpler choices. It is a three-year pragmatic trial run across 30 diverse primary care practices and includes about 20,000 average-risk patients who are overdue for screening. If you get care at a participating clinic and are overdue, you may receive reminders or offers from your clinician and be approached under the assigned invitation strategy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could increase screening rates, reduce disparities, and help catch colorectal cancer earlier.
How similar studies have gone: Other trials using behavioral 'nudges' and reminder outreach have improved preventive screening in some settings, but combining EHR clinician nudges with sequential choice at this large, pragmatic scale is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mehta, Shivan Jatin — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Mehta, Shivan Jatin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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Increasing follow-up colonoscopies after a positive FIT in community clinics
Aims to help people with abnormal stool tests for colorectal cancer get timely follow-up colonoscopies in safety-net clinics.
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Colorectal cancer screening with real-time imaging that may replace sedated scopes
Researchers are testing a new imaging method called optical coherence tomography (OCT) to spot and treat colon polyps without the need for sedation during a screening colonoscopy.
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.