Penn State College of Medicine has received a $4.2 million, five-year grant from the CDC to expand colorectal cancer screening across rural and underserved communities in Pennsylvania, marking the first time the state has been awarded CDC funding specifically for colorectal cancer screening efforts.
The initiative will launch PA-CARES, a statewide alliance designed to raise screening rates in 28 counties with the lowest participation, many of which are considered “screening deserts” due to barriers such as cost, transportation, limited provider access, and weak follow-up pathways. The program focuses not only on increasing screening uptake but also on system-level change, embedding evidence-based screening practices into routine care across both rural and urban health systems.