Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Pennsylvania State University (Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center) received a $639,477 Project Grant award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under the Cancer Cause and Prevention Research program (CFDA 93.393), effective July 15, 2026, through June 30, 2031. The grant funds a randomized controlled trial evaluating the impact of self-sampling tools on cancer screening outcomes among underscreened patient populations. Specifically, the research will assess whether home-based specimen collection modalities—fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) for colorectal cancer screening and self-sampled human papillomavirus (HPV) tests for cervical cancer screening—improve screening initiation, completion, and repeat screening adherence compared to standard patient outreach letters encouraging office-based screening appointments.

The study will enroll approximately 742 patients eligible but out-of-date with colorectal cancer screening and 250 patients out-of-date with cervical cancer screening, randomized 1:1 to receive either self-sampling tools by mail or usual-practice encouragement letters. The research will measure between-group differences in screening initiation within 12 months (Aim 1) and screen completion and repeat screening outcomes (Aim 2), utilizing electronic health records data and patient surveys. All participants will continue to receive standard healthcare system services, including diagnostic resolution for abnormal results. This implementation science initiative addresses documented gaps in understanding how self-sampling modalities affect full screening process completion and behavioral spillover effects across multiple cancer screening types.