IU Health, IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center launched program last year to benefit Hoosiers statewide
June 16, 2026
Mobile Lung Screening Unit Reaches 1,000 Patients While Expanding Access Across Rural Indiana
Indiana’s first mobile lung screening program has reached a major milestone, screening its 1,000th patient since launching in March 2025.
Since its debut, the IU Health Mobile Lung Screening Unit has visited 45 counties – expanding access to lifesaving lung cancer screening for Hoosiers, particularly those living in rural communities.
“This milestone is really a reflection of the communities we serve,” said Nasser Hanna, MD, chief of cancer screenings at IU Health and the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation Professor of Lung Cancer Clinical Research at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We’ve seen firsthand that when healthcare becomes more convenient and accessible, people are more likely to take advantage of preventive services. By bringing screenings closer to home, we’re helping more Hoosiers take an important step toward protecting their health.”
The milestone comes as Indiana continues to face one of the nation’s highest burdens of tobacco use and lung cancer. Approximately 110,000 Hoosiers are eligible for annual lung cancer screening, yet fewer than 20 percent receive the recommended test. For many individuals, barriers such as travel distance, transportation challenges and work can make accessing preventive care difficult.
To help address those challenges, IU Health and the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center collaborated to launch the mobile lung screening program to deliver hospital-quality imaging directly to communities across the state. Equipped with advanced low-dose CT technology, the unit provides the same high-quality screening patients would receive in a traditional healthcare setting while eliminating many of the obstacles that can prevent individuals from seeking care. The program was made possible by a transformational gift from the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation to the cancer center and IU Health Foundation that was doubled through matching funds from IU Health.
“Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in Indiana and across the nation, but screening gives us an opportunity to find cancer earlier, when treatment is often more effective,” Hanna said. “Reaching our 1,000th screened patient demonstrates both the need for these services and the impact that bringing advanced screening technology directly into communities can have on improving health outcomes.”
The success of the mobile lung screening unit has been fueled by strong partnerships across Indiana, including the advocacy and awareness efforts of End Lung Cancer Now, an initiative of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. Through education, outreach and community engagement, the organization has helped increase awareness about the importance of early detection and encouraged eligible Hoosiers to take advantage of screening opportunities.
“Every person screened is someone’s parent, spouse, sibling or friend,” MacKenzie White, MPH, executive director of End Lung Cancer Now, said. “Increasing access to screening gives more families the chance to catch lung cancer early, when treatment can be more effective.”
Behind every screening is a dedicated team working with county health departments, employers, healthcare providers and community organizations to coordinate screening events and connect patients with care. To date, the mobile unit has coordinated 140 community visits.
Together, these partnerships are helping change the trajectory of lung cancer outcomes in Indiana by increasing awareness, improving access, and ensuring more Hoosiers have the opportunity to be screened before symptoms appear.
Early detection of lung cancer saves lives
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, claiming more lives than colorectal, breast and prostate cancers combined. Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and the primary risk factor for lung cancer.
Research shows annual low-dose CT screening can reduce lung cancer mortality by detecting cancer at earlier, more treatable stages. Screenings are painless, noninvasive and take only a few minutes.
Annual lung cancer screenings are recommended for adults ages 50 to 80 who have a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years and who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.
To learn more about the program or schedule a screening, visit iuhealth.org/find-medical-services/lung-scan.
