Addressing financial hardship for cancer patients and their caregivers
Official title: Development of comprehensive intervention to address financial toxicity among cancer survivors and caregivers
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11453762 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new NIH-funded project aims to develop a practical, adaptable program to reduce financial toxicity for people with cancer and those who care for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $415,257 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA308930-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11453762 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cancer who have experienced financial hardship or are caregivers of someone with cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without financial strain or those not seeking help with financial aspects of care may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
If you’re living with cancer or caring for someone with cancer, this project asks how money worries affect your daily life and health. The team will gather input from survivors, caregivers, and care professionals to shape a comprehensive, adaptable program that addresses material costs, stress, and coping behaviors. The goal is a feasible intervention that fits across different stages of cancer treatment and recovery, not just during active therapy. Results could lead to tools you can use at home, with clinics, or in community settings to ease financial strain and improve wellbeing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help reduce financial stress and improve overall well-being for survivors and their caregivers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous financial toxicity interventions often focused on education or material burden, with limited real-world applicability; this project aims for a broader, more adaptable approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Porter, Kathleen Joyce — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Porter, Kathleen Joyce
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Caregiver-supported yoga for cancer survivors and their loved ones
A study to see if a bilingual, caregiver-assisted yoga program delivered on a mobile app helps adults who had HSCT and their informal caregivers feel better and sleep better.
-
Family-centered lifestyle program to help Black men with prostate cancer and their caregivers
A family-based program helps Black men with prostate cancer and their caregivers adopt healthier eating and more physical activity to improve overall well-being.
-
Including informal caregivers in a video-based meditation to ease distress for breast cancer survivors
A caregiver-inclusive online compassion-meditation program is being tested to help breast cancer survivors feel less anxiety and depression.
-
Online compassion meditation for breast cancer survivors and their caregivers
This project offers an online compassion meditation program for breast cancer survivors and their caregivers to help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression after treatment.
-
Exploring financial challenges faced by LGBTQ+ cancer survivors and their caregivers.
This study looks at the money struggles that LGBTQ+ people who have survived cancer and their caregivers face, aiming to understand how these challenges impact their ability to get care and enjoy life.
-
Using online compassion meditation with caregivers to help breast cancer survivors reduce stress
This study is looking at how having a friend or family member join breast cancer survivors in an online meditation program can help them feel less anxious and depressed after treatment, making it easier for everyone to connect and support each other from home.
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.