Summary: UCLA’s CAL-PALS initiative, funded by a $2.5M grant from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, aims to expand lung cancer screening access for underserved communities in Los Angeles through partnerships with local hospitals and community outreach.
Key Takeaways
- CAL-PALS seeks to reduce lung cancer screening disparities in Los Angeles’ underserved communities with a $2.5 million grant from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation.
- Through partnerships with local hospitals, the program will implement system-level changes and support to sustainably expand screening access for high-risk populations.
- Community outreach efforts will tackle barriers to screening by addressing stigma, fear, and lack of awareness about lung cancer detection and treatment.
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A multidisciplinary team from UCLA Health’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, the David Geffen School of Medicine, and UCLA Fielding School of Public Health received a $2.5 million grant from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation to address lung cancer screening disparities in Los Angeles County.
This initiative, the California Partnerships to Increase Access to Lung Cancer Screening (CAL-PALS), partners UCLA with Northridge Hospital Medical Center and St. Mary Medical Center to expand life-saving lung cancer screening for low-income, ethnically minoritized, and marginalized communities in Los Angeles, where screening rates remain at just 5-6%.
“Decades of public health research show early detection saves lives,” says Drew Moghanaki, MD, MPH, professor and chief of thoracic oncology at UCLA and lead principal investigator for the grant. “Our aim is to reduce barriers to screening by partnering with community hospitals. Together, we can save lives now and lay the foundation for long-term improvements in lung cancer outcomes across California.”
Closing Lung Screening Gaps
The CAL-PALS program will implement new workflows at participating hospitals, with each site having a designated lung cancer screening physician champion and navigator funded by the grant. This approach aims to create sustainable, system-level changes that expand access to high-quality lung cancer screening. Community initiatives will include educational campaigns, language support, and outreach efforts to raise awareness about available screening services.
“The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation is honored to support CAL-PALS as part of our mission to address lung cancer disparities,” says Catharine Grimes, President of the Foundation. “Drawing on lessons from the successful VA-PALS program, CAL-PALS will bridge gaps in screening access for underserved communities in Los Angeles, helping vulnerable populations obtain essential care.”
CAL-PALS will also collaborate with community stakeholders to address stigma, fear, and misinformation that may deter individuals from seeking screening. By engaging hospital leaders, medical staff, patients, and advocates, the program aims to transform regional attitudes toward lung cancer, highlighting the importance of early detection and the effectiveness of modern treatments that improve patients’ quality and length of life.
