CRC Health Equity Grants: 2026 Recipients
The Global Colon Cancer Association is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Colorectal Cancer Health Equity Grants. This year, eight organizations across seven countries have been selected to receive funding to advance innovative, community-driven initiatives that address disparities in colorectal cancer awareness, screening, diagnosis, treatment access, and patient support.
Butaro Cancer Centre of Excellence has been awarded a grant to improve colorectal cancer awareness and screening uptake in rural Rwanda through community health worker-led education, outreach, and patient navigation. In collaboration with local health centers and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, the initiative will strengthen community health worker capacity through training and support while expanding access to colorectal cancer information, screening services, and follow-up care. By empowering community health workers to connect with people in underserved areas, the project aims to improve early detection and reduce barriers to timely colorectal cancer care.
COLONTOWN (PALTOWN Development Foundation) has been awarded a grant to support Closing the Biomarker Gap: Expanding Equitable Access to Clinical Trial and Precision Medicine Education Through Derrière Diplomats. Through its peer-led patient ambassador initiative, COLONTOWN will work to reduce disparities in colorectal cancer education, biomarker awareness, and clinical trial literacy, with a focus on patients receiving care outside major academic cancer centers, those with lower health literacy, early-age onset colorectal cancer patients, and individuals in medically underserved communities. The program will connect patients to diagnosis- and biomarker-specific support groups and educational opportunities through the COLONTOWN community, helping more patients access the information and peer support needed to make informed treatment decisions.
Fundación GEDYT has been awarded a grant to launch a qFIT screening pilot to expand access to early colorectal cancer detection, in partnership with Hospital de Clínicas. Fundación GEDYT will provide the qFIT kits and staff training, while the hospital guarantees diagnostic colonoscopy for every patient with a positive result. The project will also track outcomes and follow-up, generating valuable insights to support future expansion of screening efforts.
Henaran Charitable Foundation has been awarded a grant to develop a comprehensive colorectal cancer patient education guidebook in Armenian. Drawing on trusted resources from organizations including ASCO, ESMO, NCCN, and GCCA, the guidebook will provide patients and families with detailed, culturally relevant information about diagnosis, staging, treatment options, side effects, survivorship, and navigating conversations with healthcare providers. To maximize accessibility, the resource will be made available online through Henaran's website and distributed as printed copies in cancer clinics throughout Armenia.
Niola Cancer Care Foundation has been awarded a grant to advance colorectal cancer awareness and screening in Ogun State, Nigeria through equitable health promotion and gender-responsive interventions. The initiative will combine community outreach, local radio and vernacular messaging campaigns, and training for community health workers to improve recognition of olorectal cancer symptoms and encourage timely referrals. By partnering with women’s associations, trade groups, and men’s social networks, the project will reach diverse communities with accessible education and simple screening and referral tools to help more people access early detection services.
SAID NGO has been awarded a grant to support a community-based colorectal cancer awareness, early detection, and FIT screening initiative in Lebanon. The project will engage communities through educational events, culturally appropriate Arabic-language awareness materials, and FIT kit distribution to help improve understanding of colorectal cancer symptoms and the importance of screening. Through community outreach, surveys to measure impact, and connections to screening resources, the initiative aims to reduce barriers to early detection and support more people in accessing timely care.
Syreon Research Africa has been awarded a grant to evaluate access to stool-based colorectal cancer screening tests across selected regions in Ghana. The project will assess the availability, quality, and accessibility of screening options, including gFOBT, FIT/iFOBT, and sDNA-FIT, while identifying financial, geographic, and health system barriers that limit access. Findings from this assessment will inform evidence-based recommendations to strengthen colorectal cancer screening strategies and support more equitable access to early detection across Ghana.
Trials of Color has been awarded a grant to support Peace of Mind at Home, a community-based screening and navigation initiative serving a Virginia community with disproportionately high colorectal cancer incidence. In partnership with VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and local community and faith-based organizations, the project will provide Cologuard screening tests directly to community members facing barriers to care while increasing awareness of colorectal cancer symptoms and screening. Participants with concerning screening results will receive personalized guidance from patient advocates to help ensure timely follow-up and access to diagnostic care.
We congratulate this year's grant recipients and look forward to supporting their work and sharing their impact over the coming year.
Thank you to the sponsors of the 2026 CRC Health Equity Grants program, Bristol Myers Squibb and Exelixis for their support.
Learn more about the CRC Health Equity Grants program and read about the impact of past projects on the blog.