The National Cancer Institute awarded two universities a $5.7 million grant to increase colorectal cancer screening rates in the Appalachia region of the U.S.
What you should know:
1. Cancer researchers at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center in Lexington and The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus will use the grant to partner with local public health providers in the region to increase screening efforts over a five-year period.
2. The researchers hope to select and implement multilevel intervention strategies to increase screening, follow-up and referral-to-care rates.
3. The Applachia region spans 54 counties in Kentucky and 32 counties in Ohio. Its geographical position makes it an underserved area of the U.S.