NIH-funded research R01 grant

A toolkit to help family caregivers identify and communicate pain in people with Alzheimer's disease.

Official title: The Pain Identification and Communication Toolkit: A Training Program to Support Family Caregivers of Persons with ADRD

Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11023145 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a helpful training program for family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and related dementias, teaching them how to spot and talk about pain so they can better support their loved ones in managing discomfort.

More Caregivers research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWeill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project startFebruary 15, 2023
Project endJanuary 31, 2028
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$772,380
NIH project number5R01AG079932-03
Project IDNIH-11023145 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are family caregivers of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.

Less likely to help

Patients who are not diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a training program called the Pain Identification and Communication Toolkit (PICT) to assist family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) in recognizing and communicating about pain. The program includes training on using an observational pain assessment tool, coaching on effective communication strategies, and opportunities for caregivers to practice their skills. By enhancing caregivers' abilities to identify and articulate pain, the research aims to improve pain management for those with ADRD, who often struggle to express their discomfort due to cognitive decline.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better pain management for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, improving their quality of life.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that caregiver training programs can effectively improve pain assessment and management in similar populations.

Where this research is happening

  • Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
    New York, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Riffin, Catherine — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
  • Study coordinator: Riffin, Catherine

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.