Making it easier to keep up with yearly low‑dose lung CT screening
Official title: Optimizing adherence to lung cancer screening: Applying theory and implementation science to participant engagement
Funded at Hackensack University Medical Center · NIH-11175404 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project creates low‑burden reminder messages and clinic-friendly approaches to help people at high risk stick with annual low‑dose CT lung cancer screening.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hackensack University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hackensack, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $108,050 |
| NIH project number | 5K00CA264409-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11175404 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People at high risk for lung cancer—typically older adults with a significant smoking history who are eligible for annual low‑dose CT screening—and patients receiving care at participating clinical sites are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not eligible for lung cancer screening, who cannot access participating clinics, or who cannot undergo CT scans would not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers are developing reminder messages based on behavior science and working with clinics, clinicians, and patients to shape those messages. They will use pragmatic, implementation-focused methods to fit the reminders into busy clinical workflows so clinics can deliver them without extra burden. The work builds on earlier message development and will track whether the new approaches lead to better return rates for yearly screening. Patients and health systems will be engaged to make sure the interventions are practical and scalable.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more people eligible for screening may complete yearly low‑dose CT scans so lung cancers can be found earlier when curative treatment is more likely.
How similar studies have gone: Outreach and reminders have improved adherence in other cancer screening programs, and this work adapts those proven ideas specifically for annual lung CT screening using implementation science.
Where this research is happening
-
Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hirsch, Erin — Hackensack University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hirsch, Erin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving participation in lung cancer screening programs
This study is all about helping people at high risk for lung cancer remember to get their annual screenings by creating friendly reminder messages based on their feedback, so more folks can catch lung cancer early when it's easier to treat.
-
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.