New College of Pharmacy initiative will improve lung cancer screening access in Iowa

Iowa City, IA -A groundbreaking initiative to improve lung cancer screening rates in Iowa has received a major boost with support from Eli Lilly and Company. The community pharmacy-based study is aimed at reaching thousands of at-risk Iowans.

Led by principal investigator, Jill Kolesar, dean, Jean M. Schmidt chair in drug discovery, and professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, funding will support the Community Health Assessment and Monitoring in the Pharmacy (CHAMP) program, in collaboration with the Iowa Pharmacists Association, and CPESN Iowa.

Despite national recommendations and insurance coverage, only about 20 percent of eligible Iowans undergo annual lung cancer screening (LCS). CHAMP aims to change that by integrating screening into routine pharmacy visits, leveraging the accessibility and trust of community pharmacists.

"This initiative is a game-changer," said Kolesar. "By meeting patients where they are-in their local pharmacies-we can dramatically increase access to life-saving lung cancer screening."

CHAMP is guided by a multidisciplinary steering committee that includes experts in pharmacy, medicine, health services research, and patient advocacy. Lilly's investment underscores the importance of innovative, community-based approaches to cancer prevention and early detection - especially in underserved or rural populations.

"The days of health care providers working in silos and all health care being done in clinics are past," said Jeff Quinlan, professor and chair, Family and Community Medicine, UI Health Care. "To provide the best care possible for our patients, it is essential that we collaborate across disciplines. This project promises to demonstrate the benefit of partnering with local pharmacists to improve cancer screening, and, ultimately, to decrease lung cancer-related pain, suffering, and death for Iowans."

Phase one will launch in the first quarter of 2026 at Greenwood Pharmacy and Cedar Valley Family Medicine, Waterloo, Iowa, where 500 eligible participants will be enrolled. In a routine visit to the pharmacy, CHAMP patients will answer a few simple questions to determine if they are candidates for LCS. Eligible participants will receive a blood test that can determine the likelihood of detecting lung cancer through low-dose CT (LDCT). Those with positive blood tests will be referred for LDCT.

The study will track the number of individuals undergoing screenings, the number of lung cancer diagnoses, and the frequency of individuals returning for annual screenings in years two and three. The study's goal is to see a 75 percent return rate, well above the national average 22.3 percent.

"We're tackling a critical need to improve lung cancer screenings in Iowa, and this is a great partnership for the Iowa Research Network and the Department of Family and Community Medicine," said Korey Kennelty, associate professor, Colleges of Pharmacy and Carver College of Medicine. "This project also lays the groundwork for future efforts to boost other screening rates in our communities."

Additional Remarks:

Michael D. Hogue, PharmD, Chief Executive Officer, American Pharmacists Association: "Cancer impacts the lives of millions of Americans, and with access to healthcare on the decline we must look for innovative ways to improve screening and early detection of cancer so that patients have the best chance of treatment and survival. This project is transformational as it capitalizes upon our nation's most accessible and highly trusted healthcare professionals - pharmacists - to improve early detection for lung cancer. The Iowa model can serve as a beacon of hope for patients and an exemplar practice for the rest of our country."

Matt Osterhaus, President, CPESN Iowa, "Community pharmacies are critical health care access centers in their communities. Pharmacists in the CPESN Iowa network are trusted members of the local healthcare team and are committed to improving the health outcomes of their patients. Participating in this lung cancer screening study will highlight the impact highly engaged, collaborative community pharmacies can have on cancer screening rates across our state. We welcome the opportunity to work with the researchers at the University of Iowa and Lilly to improve the health of Iowans."