Virginia Center to Improve Cancer Prevention in Public Housing
The Virginia Advancing Cancer Control Engaged Research through Transformative Solutions Center
This program brings culturally adapted cancer prevention and health-promotion services to adults living in Virginia public housing to improve screening and healthy habits.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146553 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The center is a partnership between Virginia Commonwealth University, Old Dominion University, and Virginia HUD-administered public housing communities to spread proven cancer prevention programs in low-income neighborhoods. Community members will take active roles through a Housing Collaborative Community Advisory Board, co-leading research projects, and serving as peer-to-peer health advisors. Researchers will use community-engaged methods and behavior-change frameworks like Collective Efficacy, Social Cognitive Theory, and the Social Ecological Model to guide multi-level interventions. The goal is to adapt, deliver, and spread evidence-based health promotion and cancer control activities across the state’s public housing system.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) who live in HUD-administered public housing or income-based communities in Virginia and who are willing to participate as advisory members, peer advisors, or study participants.
Not a fit: People who do not live in Virginia’s targeted public housing communities or who do not want to engage in community-based programs are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this center.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, residents in targeted public housing could gain better access to cancer screening, prevention services, and culturally tailored support that may reduce cancer risks and narrow outcome gaps.
How similar studies have performed: Community-engaged and peer-led cancer prevention efforts have improved screening and healthy behaviors in other underserved populations, although applying them statewide in public housing is less common.
Where this research is happening
Richmond, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Plunk, Andrew Duane — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Plunk, Andrew Duane
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.