AI-powered, person-centered chatbot to help manage menstrual pain
Official title: AI-Supported, Evidence-based, Person-Centered Chatbot for Dysmenorrhea Self-Management: Further Development and Preliminary Evaluation
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11436001 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly AI chatbot called PeriodPal will provide evidence-based, personalized tips to help manage dysmenorrhea and reduce days missed from work or school.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $418,257 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD123835-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11436001 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older experiencing dysmenorrhea who are seeking self-management guidance through a digital tool.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who do not experience moderate to severe menstrual pain or who prefer non-digital self-management approaches may not benefit.
What this research studies
Dysmenorrhea affects a large portion of people who menstruate and disrupts daily activities. This project will refine and test an AI-assisted chatbot that delivers tailored, evidence-based self-management guidance for menstrual pain, with 24/7 real-time support. The team will assess how feasible and user-friendly PeriodPal is for adults 21 and older, using interactive modules and safe, expert information to support daily self-care. The goal is to empower patients to manage symptoms more effectively and improve quality of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience better control of menstrual pain and fewer missed days from work or school through personalized digital support.
How similar studies have gone: Previous digital health tools for pain self-management have shown promise, but AI-informed, personalized chatbots for dysmenorrhea are emerging and require feasibility testing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Chen X — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Chen, Chen X
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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.