A mobile app to help veterans with sleep problems and alcohol use.
Official title: A Mobile App to Address Co-Occurring Sleep Problems and Heavy Alcohol Use among Veterans Outside of Care Settings
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-10928721 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new mobile app to help post-9/11 veterans who have trouble with drinking and sleep but aren't getting any help, using friendly techniques to make it easier for them to feel better and improve their lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $228,751 |
| NIH project number | 5R34AA030868-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10928721 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are post-9/11 veterans experiencing insomnia and alcohol use disorder who are not currently accessing care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are actively receiving treatment for alcohol use disorder or insomnia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop and test a mobile app designed specifically for post-9/11 veterans who are struggling with alcohol use disorder and insomnia but are not currently receiving care. The app will incorporate cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) techniques along with brief interventions for alcohol use, making it accessible for veterans who may not seek traditional treatment. By utilizing technology, the project seeks to reach and support these veterans in managing their symptoms effectively and improving their overall well-being.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide veterans with a convenient and effective tool to manage their sleep and alcohol use issues, potentially leading to better health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that cognitive behavioral therapy can effectively improve insomnia symptoms, but this approach combining it with alcohol interventions in a mobile app format is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pedersen, Eric R. — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Pedersen, Eric R.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Mobile app to help post‑9/11 veterans sleep better and drink less
A smartphone program for post‑9/11 veterans who are not in care that aims to improve sleep and reduce heavy drinking using sleep therapy plus brief alcohol support.
-
Biomarkers to detect recent heavy drinking in veterans
A doctor-scientist team is testing blood biomarkers to better identify recent excessive alcohol use in veterans so clinicians can screen, counsel, and care for those at risk.
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Understanding how heavy drinking and anxiety relate in emerging adults
This grant studies how heavy alcohol use and anxiety symptoms interact in young adults (ages 18–34) and what biological stress markers might reveal about that relationship.
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Understanding how veterans access care for alcohol use and behavioral health
A study following 2,000 post-9/11 veterans to see how alcohol use, PTSD, and depression relate to access to behavioral health care over four years.
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Understanding how peer norms around alcohol and HIV prevention affect adolescents and young adults in rural Uganda
This project studies how what young people think their peers do or approve of influences drinking and HIV prevention behaviors in rural Uganda, with the goal of improving health outcomes.
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Mentor Moms+: a community-led plan to cut alcohol use and HIV risk during pregnancy in South Africa
A community-based program adapts a trusted peer-led model to help pregnant and lactating people reduce alcohol use and HIV risk in South Africa.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.