PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — The National Comprehensive Cancer Network said it selected four research projects for funding aimed at improving lung cancer screening rates and access to care in the United States.
The organization’s Oncology Research Program will oversee the initiatives, with funding provided by Merck, NCCN said.
The projects focus on increasing adherence to screening guidelines, reducing disparities, and improving access to lung cancer screening, which remains underutilized compared with other cancer screenings.
“NCCN has worked to standardize and simplify the criteria for who is eligible for lung cancer screening,” Chief Executive Officer Dr. Crystal Denlinger said, adding that many eligible individuals are not being screened.
Selected projects include efforts led by researchers at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale Cancer Center.
The initiatives will examine approaches such as community-based interventions, improved imaging access, and strategies to support continued participation in annual screening, according to NCCN.
The proposals were reviewed by a scientific committee composed of experts from NCCN member institutions, and the projects are expected to be completed within two years.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, with more than 225,000 new cases estimated in 2025, according to NCCN.
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