Sustaining community breast cancer screening with the National Witness Project
Strategies for Reaching and Impacting Our Communities Sustainably (NWP-ROCS Program)
This project will develop and spread ways to keep a survivor-led community program running so more women get regular breast cancer screening.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11393055 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I would be part of a national effort working with the National Witness Project, a community program led by cancer survivors that helps women get screened for breast cancer. The team will first work closely with six local NWP sites to refine a set of practical strategies to keep the program running long-term. They will then follow many sites across the country using interviews, surveys, and ongoing tracking to see which strategies help programs stick around and reach more people. The focus is on strengthening local partnerships, training Lay Health Advisors, and building capacity so communities can continue offering trusted screening support.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants include women from communities served by the National Witness Project, local Lay Health Advisors, program staff, and community partners willing to take part in interviews, surveys, and follow-up activities.
Not a fit: People seeking new medical treatments or those not connected to community screening programs are unlikely to receive direct health benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could keep proven community screening programs operating longer so more women get timely breast cancer screening and earlier detection.
How similar studies have performed: Other Lay Health Advisor programs, including the National Witness Project, have improved breast cancer screening rates, but targeted research on long-term sustainability strategies is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shelton, Rachel C — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Shelton, Rachel 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.