Making genetic testing routine for people with colorectal cancer
Piloting an Implementation Strategy for Mainstream Genetic Testing in Colorectal Cancer
This project will try a new approach to make genetic testing a normal part of care for people with colorectal cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179338 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you get care at participating clinics, your care team will offer pre-test counseling and arrange germline genetic testing as part of routine visits. The researchers will interview surgeons, oncologists, nurses, genetic counselors, and clinic leaders to learn what prevents wider use of this approach. They will design a tailored, multi-level plan to address those barriers and then pilot that plan in clinics to see if more patients complete testing. Staff and patient feedback will be collected to refine the approach for broader use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with colorectal cancer who receive care at participating clinics and are eligible for germline genetic testing.
Not a fit: Patients who receive care outside participating sites, who decline genetic testing, or whose cancer is not related to hereditary variants may not see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: More people with colorectal cancer could get genetic testing, which can guide treatment decisions and help identify family members at increased cancer risk.
How similar studies have performed: Mainstream genetic testing has increased testing rates in other cancer settings and shows promise, but it has not yet been widely adopted for colorectal cancer across the U.S.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hollis, Robert H — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Hollis, Robert H
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.