A structured peer support program for people having stem cell transplants

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

If you’re preparing for a stem cell transplant due to blood cancer, this study tests a friendly peer support plan delivered by phone to reduce loneliness and boost confidence during and after the transplant. The program is designed to be easy to access, using proven psychosocial ideas to help patients cope with the intense treatment and long recovery. Researchers will compare this structured peer support with standard care to see if it improves emotional well-being and health outcomes. The study prioritizes early help before, during, and after hospitalization to reach patients who might not get in-person psychosocial support. Results could show a scalable way to support transplant patients across diverse clinics.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• Brigham and Women's Hospital
  Boston, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Amonoo, Hermioni L. — Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Study coordinator: Amonoo, Hermioni L.

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

• Gentle electrical stimulation to keep muscles strong during stem cell transplant

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• Inpatient yoga therapy for cancer patients undergoing stem cell transplant

  A randomized trial will test whether an inpatient yoga program helps people receiving stem cell transplants feel better and cope with treatment.

  NIH research University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · Houston, United States · NIH-11447334

• T Cell Precursors to Restore Immune Power After Stem Cell Transplants

  This grant supports a patient-friendly approach to speed up immune recovery after a stem cell transplant by giving patients donor‑made T cell precursors that mature into healthy immune cells.

  NIH research Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · New York, United States · NIH-11438593

• Engineering patient avatars to study GVHD after bone marrow transplant

  Researchers are creating patient-specific lab models of the gut, liver, and blood to better understand and prevent GVHD after bone marrow transplant, with a focus on children.

  NIH research Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, United States · NIH-11428942

• Optimizing stem cell transplants to treat non-malignant blood diseases

  A researcher is pursuing a five-year plan to improve stem cell transplantation strategies for non-cancer blood illnesses, with a focus on safer conditioning, better stem cell collection, and gene editing.

  NIH research Washington University · Saint Louis, United States · NIH-11392266

• Positive psychology support for stem cell transplant survivors

  A phone-delivered program helps people who survived stem cell transplantation feel less anxious or depressed and enjoy a higher quality of life.

  NIH research Brigham and Women's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11383135

About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.