Massachusetts Cancer Prevention and Control Network to Reach More People
Official title: DP24-004, Massachusetts Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network
Funded at Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health · NIH-11503924 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nationwide-scale collaboration will spread proven cancer prevention and tobacco-control strategies through community health centers in Massachusetts to reach more patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $349,214 |
| NIH project number | 5U48DP006873-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11503924 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who receive care at Massachusetts community health centers, especially those with factors linked to higher cancer risk or tobacco use.
✕Less likely to help
Patients in settings outside CHCs or with conditions not directly addressed by cancer prevention or tobacco-control efforts may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This program builds on a strong partnership between Harvard Chan School of Public Health and the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers to widen the use of evidence-based cancer prevention and screening practices in primary care settings. It will support cross-center work, co-design approaches, and capacity-building to reach populations with the greatest barriers to care. A key focus is expanding tobacco-cessation efforts, which are currently underutilized among CHC patients who smoke. The initiative will test and refine practical implementation strategies in low-resource community clinics to reduce cancer risk and promote early detection. The effort aims to create sustainable, scalable improvements that can be adopted by CHCs across Massachusetts and beyond.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients in community health centers could experience earlier cancer detection and reduced tobacco-related harms.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work within CHCs has demonstrated that tailored implementation strategies can increase screening and prevention uptake, supporting this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Emmons, Karen M. — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Emmons, Karen M.
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.