Hackensack Meridian Health Secures $3.7M Federal Grant to Address Lung Cancer Screening Disparities in African American Communities
A research team led by Hackensack Meridian Health's Center for Discovery and Innovation has been awarded a five-year, $3.7 million federal grant from the National Cancer Institute. This funding will support the 'Witness Project Lung' initiative, which aims to close the significant gap in lung cancer screening rates among eligible African Americans. Currently, fewer than 2% of eligible African Americans undergo lung cancer screening, a stark contrast to the national average of approximately 18%. The project will utilize trained community members, known as Witness Role Models, who will share personal stories to encourage peers to seek screening. Lay Health Advisors will also provide navigation support in trusted community settings, including 22 churches and community-based organizations across northern New Jersey and New York City, with partnerships extending to the New York City Housing Authority. Dr. Lisa Carter-Bawa, director of the Cancer Prevention Precision Control Institute at the CDI, is the principa...
