A three-year grant will provide lung cancer screening resources, wellness education, and patient navigation to Tribal Nations across North America.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Targeted Workplace Resources: The initiative provides lung cancer screening workflows, wellness education, and patient navigation services specifically for Indigenous workplaces across the US and Canada.
- Addressing Health Disparities: Data from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) show that American Indian and Alaska Native populations face the highest lung cancer incidence and mortality rates of any ethnic group.
- Indigenous-Led Education: The program features five educator-led modules and patient navigators who blend traditional knowledge with western medicine to improve screening and early detection.
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Buffalo, NY) is expanding its lung healthcare resources to Indigenous workplaces across North America through a three-year grant from Lilly, according to the organization.
The project involves collaboration with human resources specialists in Tribal Nations and communities across the US and Canada. The Roswell Park department of indigenous cancer health team will provide lung cancer screening workflow resources, lung wellness education, and patient navigation services for thousands of eligible individuals.
The grant, which launched in 2025, supports efforts to address barriers to healthcare access in Indigenous communities. Data from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) show that American Indian and Alaska Native populations have the highest cancer incidence and mortality of any racial or ethnic group for several diseases, including lung cancer.
“Our program is all about education for the people, and it’s a way to help both urban and rural communities to build on their existing resources and strengths,” said Rodney Haring, chair of the department of indigenous cancer health at Roswell Park, in a news release. Haring added that the program focuses on the importance of screening and early detection for lung cancer and lung disease.
The initiative includes partner communities in the Northeast, Midwest, and South-Central US, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Canada. Employers and governmental entities will integrate these resources into their existing services for employees.
“Lilly’s investment makes it possible for us to expand this work across Indigenous communities in the US and Canada and meet people where they live and work,” said Candace Johnson, president and CEO of Roswell Park, in a news release.
At the center of the program are five educator-led group modules. These sessions address topics including cancer screening, early detection, lung health, wellness, resiliency, health disparities, and stress management. Participants also have access to virtual and Indigenous patient navigators who are trained community members.
“This grant will make a transformative impact on Native communities by supporting the incredible work of Dr Rodney Haring and his colleagues at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center,” said Seneca Nation president J Conrad Seneca in a news release.
The department of indigenous cancer health at Roswell Park is the first of its kind at a US cancer center. The team blends Indigenous knowledge with western medicine and incorporates elements of storytelling into its services.
“As we share knowledge about healthy eating, physical activity, lung cancer screening, cancer prevention and stress management, we will be empowering rural community members to advocate for their health, benefitting not only current members of those communities but also the generations to follow,” said Josie Raphaelito, assistant director of the Roswell Park department of indigenous cancer health, in a news release.
