What's keeping people from getting lung cancer screening
Official title: Examining Barriers to Lung Cancer Screening
Funded at Kaiser Foundation Research Institute · NIH-11252562 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why eligible adults—especially people from minority or low-income groups—don't get recommended low-dose CT lung cancer screening.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $81,825 |
| NIH project number | 5R03CA297359-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11252562 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults who meet lung cancer screening eligibility (age and smoking history) and especially those from minority, rural, or low-income communities who face access barriers.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not meet lung cancer screening eligibility (for example, never-smokers or those outside the age criteria) are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
You may be asked to share your screening history and thoughts about low-dose CT lung scans while researchers review clinic records to see who gets screened and who doesn't. They'll examine factors like long smoking history, other health problems, travel time to screening centers, direct and indirect costs, and fears about being diagnosed. The team will compare lung screening rates with other cancer screenings and look for differences by race, income, and location. Methods will probably include surveys or interviews with patients and analysis of healthcare and access data to pinpoint practical barriers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to changes that make it easier for eligible people—particularly minorities and low-income patients—to access life‑saving lung cancer screening.
How similar studies have gone: Large trials have shown low-dose CT screening reduces lung cancer deaths, and prior research has documented barriers and persistent disparities, but uptake remains low and uneven.
Where this research is happening
-
Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wain, Kris — Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Wain, Kris
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
-
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.
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Proteogenomic framework to improve lung cancer screening with biomarkers
A biomarker-based approach aims to refine LDCT lung cancer screening so more cancers are caught early while reducing unnecessary procedures.
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.