Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai a Project Grant of $711,272 under the Cancer Treatment Research program (CFDA 93.395) to conduct research on improved lung cancer screening approaches for people living with HIV (PWH). The grant, effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, supports the development and validation of optimized screening strategies using low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCT) and advanced risk prediction models tailored to PWH populations. The research addresses a critical gap in cancer care by identifying lung cancer risk prediction tools, refining nodule follow-up protocols, and incorporating HIV-specific mortality risk assessments to improve screening decision-making in this underserved population.

The project delivers multiple research products and analytical tools designed to stem preventable lung cancer mortality among PWH, who currently experience disproportionately poor survival outcomes due to late-stage diagnoses. Key deliverables include validated lung cancer risk stratification models adapted for PWH populations, optimized nodule follow-up algorithms accounting for HIV-related false positive rates and competing mortality risks, and evidence-based screening regimens informed by the VACS (Veterans Aging Cohort Study) Index and other HIV-specific prognostic factors. The research employs simulation modeling methodologies to evaluate screening strategies and generate recommendations for clinical implementation, ultimately improving the precision and effectiveness of cancer screening in this vulnerable patient population.