Thursday, January 1, 2026 1/1/2026

Addressing Genomic Disparities in Cancer Survivors

Award Number: R01CA277599
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/09/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2028

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Addressing Genomic Disparities in Cancer Survivors - Genetic testing (GT) for hereditary cancer and related health services do not reach all segments of the population equitably. Racial disparities in genomic care are profound, persistent, and growing. Less than 30% of high-risk cancer patients are referred for germline GT, with appreciably lower referral and testing rates among racial minorities, especially among Blacks. GT of cancer survivors can directly inform treatment following progression or treatment resistance and can facilitate primary and secondary prevention of cancers in their unaffected relatives. Demand for GC (genetic counseling) and GT continues to increase with expanding GT indications and decreasing sequencing costs yet supply of genetic counselors remains limited. The conventional approach of referral to pretest genetic counseling is a common barrier to receiving GT. Further, evidence suggests that traditional comprehensive, pre-test GC does not meet the needs of many survivors, especially underserved minorities. Thus, new models of genome-based care are needed that are responsive to community needs, improve access, do not overburden scarce genetic counseling resources, and do not widen existing disparities. Some health care systems and commercial GT laboratories use digital interventions, including videos and relational agents (RAs), instead of traditional pre-test GC sessions, without providing specifics about community engagement development, acceptability, or efficacy in oncology settings through a rigorous methodologic strategy as we propose. Given the life-saving benefits of GT, understanding how to effectively educate, empower and test high-risk patients in a culturally acceptable way can move the field forward and reduce persistent racial disparities. This study will address this translational gap. In response to community identified needs and enthusiastic support from cancer patients, relatives and community advocates while also building on our pilot work, we will enroll 428 Black cancer patients meeting national guidelines for GT into a 2-arm randomized controlled trial. This approach may be of particular benefit to hundreds of thousands Black patients and their relatives because they are often unaware of their risks, less likely to have a provider discuss their risk and refer them for GT at the time of diagnosis and are not equably garnering the potentially lifesaving benefits of personalized prevention, screening, and treatment. The specific aims are to: 1) Compare the efficacy of a culturally tailored RA vs. Enhanced Usual Care (EUC) on engagement in genetic education and GT uptake; 2) Evaluate the impact of the RA vs. EUC on informed decision-making and psychosocial outcomes; and 3) Explore potential mechanisms by assessing mediators and moderations of effectiveness. Data from this trial can be used to guide clinical practice and policy decisions for advancing cancer health equity and improving access to genetic education and GT. If successful, this approach could be applied to other cancers and chronic conditions.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $558,447 )
2026	2026	RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY	65 BERGEN ST	NEWARK	NJ	07107	ESSEX	USA	Cancer Cause and Prevention Research	000	5	12/30/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$558,447
														Subtotal = $558,447

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $633,526 )
2025	2025	RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY	65 BERGEN ST	NEWARK	NJ	07107	ESSEX	USA	Cancer Cause and Prevention Research	001	4	8/6/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$63,351
2025	2025	RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY	65 BERGEN ST	NEWARK	NJ	07107	ESSEX	USA	Cancer Cause and Prevention Research	000	4	1/24/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$570,175
														Subtotal = $633,526

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $593,568 )
2024	2024	RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY	65 BERGEN ST	NEWARK	NJ	07107	ESSEX	USA	Cancer Cause and Prevention Research	000	3	2/1/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$562,328
2024	2024	RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY	65 BERGEN ST	NEWARK	NJ	07107	ESSEX	USA	Cancer Cause and Prevention Research	001	3	4/24/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$31,240
														Subtotal = $593,568

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $804,463 )
2023	2023	RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY	65 BERGEN ST	NEWARK	NJ	07107	ESSEX	USA	Cancer Cause and Prevention Research	003	2	9/20/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$125,000
2023	2023	RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY	195 LITTLE ALBANY ST	NEW BRUNSWICK	NJ	08903	MIDDLESEX	USA	Cancer Cause and Prevention Research	000	1	3/8/2023	NEW	$679,463
2023	2023	RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY	65 BERGEN ST	NEWARK	NJ	07107	ESSEX	USA	Cancer Cause and Prevention Research	002	2	6/5/2023	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$679,463
2023	2023	RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY	195 LITTLE ALBANY ST	NEW BRUNSWICK	NJ	08903	MIDDLESEX	USA	Cancer Cause and Prevention Research	001	1	6/5/2023	NEW	-$679,463
														Subtotal = $804,463

Grand Total All Awards = $2,590,004

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Addressing Genomic Disparities in Cancer Survivors

Award Number: R01CA277599

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/09/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2028

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