Several rural communities in North Carolina continue to experience prostate cancer diagnosis and death rates well above state and national averages. To help address this health gap, the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center has been awarded a 2026 Bayer Community Innovation Grant from ZERO Prostate Cancer. UNC Lineberger was one of only five organizations nationwide — and the only one in North Carolina — to be selected for this year’s funding.
The grant will support Check & Protect: UNC Prostate Cancer Awareness and Screening Initiative, a community‑based pilot program designed to expand prostate cancer education, screening and early detection among men at increased risk.
Reaching communities with the greatest need
Using data from UNC Lineberger’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) and its Cancer Health Assets and Needs Assessment (CHANA), the Check & Protect initiative will focus on five counties in the northeast and southeast regions of North Carolina: Halifax, Edgecombe and Martin counties in the northeast, and Hoke and Robeson counties in the southeast.
These counties are mostly rural and experience some of the highest prostate cancer rates in the state.
“Our goal is to ensure that prostate cancer screening efforts are grounded in community priorities,” said Stephanie Wheeler, PhD, MPH, associate director for community outreach and engagement at UNC Lineberger. “By using data to reach men with the greatest need in the places they live, work and gather, the Check & Protect initiative aims to bridge the health gaps we see in these rural counties.”
A community-based approach to education and screening
Check & Protect is led by UNC Lineberger’s COE in partnership with the UNC Department of Urology’s Men’s Health Initiative (MHI). The program connects with men in familiar, trusted places and shares easy-to-understand information to help them make informed decisions about their health.
The initiative includes two main components:
- Education shaped by community input: UNC Lineberger will create three prostate cancer education videos with guidance from community members, advocates and healthcare providers. The videos will share real experiences from men in rural North Carolina and will be shared across digital and social media platforms.
- In-person education and screening events: Four men’s health events will be hosted across northeast and southeast North Carolina, with one event for healthcare providers and one for community members in each region. Provider sessions will highlight current prostate cancer screening guidelines and shared decision-making, while community events will combine education with access to free screening.
Through UNC Lineberger’s long-standing partnership with Labcorp, community members attending these events will be offered a free Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) screening.
The events will take place in familiar locations such as community centers and places of worship to encourage participation and open conversations about men’s health.
Partnering to build a lasting impact
The initiative will be led by William Allen Moore, MPH, project coordinator for the UNC Men’s Health Program. Moore and UNC Lineberger COE will work closely with the Prostate Cancer Coalition of North Carolina (PCCNC) and other trusted community networks, including the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN), to maximize the impact of Check & Protect.
“I’m truly excited about the work we’ll be doing together across North Carolina, especially in rural and underserved communities,” Moore said. “This grant allows us to bring care, education and hope directly into underserved counties by offering free PSA testing and resources where it’s needed most.”
During the pilot phase, the program aims to reach 25 healthcare providers and at least 100 community members, while building connections that support future outreach across North Carolina.
“Early detection can change lives, and these efforts mean more fathers, brothers, uncles and husbands will have the chance to spend meaningful time with their families and loved ones. That impact on individuals, families and entire communities is what this work is all about,” Moore said.
By combining data-driven planning with outreach in trusted community settings and strong local partnerships, Check & Protect aims to improve early detection and help more men in rural North Carolina get the care they need.