Addressing colorectal cancer screening disparities in Nova Scotia-StFX’s Dr. Arlinda Ruco awarded Canadian Cancer Society Emerging Scholar Research Grant  

Dr. Arlinda Ruco – photo provided

StFX Interdisciplinary Health professor Dr. Arlinda Ruco has been awarded a Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) Emerging Scholar Research Grant (valued at $594,197) and is leading a team working to identify whether certain groups may be less likely to participate in colorectal cancer screening and to co-design potential interventions to improve uptake. 

Dr. Ruco—who is also an Adjunct Scientist, Women’s College Hospital; Associate Member, Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute; and Affiliate Scientist at Nova Scotia Health and VHA Home HealthCare—will engage a patient/community advisory group throughout as part of the research team. “This work is also aligned with the Health Equity Framework for Nova Scotia and focuses on improving outcomes for people who may experience poorer health in the province,” she says.  

“Almost every single person will be affected by cancer in their lifetime in one way or another. Cancer screening allows us to prevent the disease altogether or diagnose it in the early stages when treatment may be more effective,” Dr. Ruco says. 

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