UI Hosts New Chapter of American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative

Student-led nonprofit aims to boost awareness and access to early detection

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:04am

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A ghostly, glowing X-ray photograph of a human lung, revealing its intricate internal structures and airways as delicate, pulsing lines against a dark background, conveying the fragility and importance of early lung cancer detection.A translucent X-ray image of the human lung serves as a metaphor for the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative's mission to make early detection more accessible.Iowa City Today

The University of Iowa has opened a new chapter of the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative, a national student-led nonprofit focused on promoting lung cancer screening and early detection. Co-founded by UI biomedical engineering and molecular biology students, the chapter plans to host events, form community partnerships, and advocate for more equitable screening guidelines.

Why it matters

Lung cancer is a major health issue in Johnson County, with an incidence rate of 27.1 across all ages, races, and sexes. However, a stigma around lung cancer, often associated with smoking, has limited progress in getting high-risk individuals screened and treated. The new UI chapter aims to raise awareness and access to screening, which can significantly improve survival rates if caught early.

The details

The UI chapter is the second in Iowa, after one established at Drake University in Des Moines. The initiative has over 50 chapters and 700 students nationwide and abroad. Co-founders Avishma Muthyapu and Amya Saxena hope to spread awareness and access to lung cancer screening in the Iowa City area, noting that many eligible individuals are unaware of their eligibility. The initiative is also working to make screening guidelines more inclusive of women, people of color, and non-smokers.

  • The UI chapter was established in April 2026.
  • In April 2026, the chapter is anticipating a partnership with Kendra Scott where 20% of purchases will be donated to the initiative.

The players

Avishma Muthyapu

A third-year UI biomedical engineering student and co-founder and president of the new UI chapter.

Amya Saxena

A second-year UI molecular biology and biochemistry major and co-founder and co-president of the new UI chapter.

Sania Choudhary

A third-year UC Berkeley student and the ALCSI International Intercollegiate Director, overseeing 13 international and U.S.-based chapters and chairing the international initiatives committee.

American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative

A national student-led nonprofit with over 50 chapters and 700 students in the U.S. and abroad, focused on promoting lung cancer screening and early detection.

UI Health Care

The University of Iowa's academic medical center, which has a cancer screening center that the ALCSI UI chapter will work with.

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What they’re saying

“Disciplines between engineering and medicine overlap a lot, and I just kind of wanted to be part of both, where I am helping build a machine but also using them later in life. I feel like that would make me a good doctor later on.”

— Avishma Muthyapu, Co-founder and president of the UI ALCSI chapter

“It's important for high-risk individuals to at least get screened for lung cancer. The earlier you can diagnose it, the better chance you have at fighting it off.”

— Amya Saxena, Co-founder and co-president of the UI ALCSI chapter

“Most people who are eligible for screening actually don't know that they're eligible. And the reason that we care so much about that is the survival rate for lung cancer at earlier stages is much higher than it is for those at later stages.”

— Sania Choudhary, ALCSI International Intercollegiate Director

What’s next

The UI chapter is looking to form a board of committees with physician mentors and plan future tabling events to increase outreach and information on screening availability.

The takeaway

The new UI chapter of the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative aims to tackle the stigma and lack of awareness around lung cancer screening, which is crucial for early detection and improving survival rates. By partnering with the community and advocating for more inclusive screening guidelines, the student-led chapter hopes to make a meaningful impact on lung cancer care in the Iowa City area.