Bedside digital companion to support adults during stem cell transplants
Official title: A Bedside Relational Agent to Improve Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Outcomes in Cancer Patients
Funded at Friendi.fi Corporation · NIH-11173832 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A bedside digital companion will be offered to adult cancer patients having hematopoietic stem cell transplants to help lower delirium, falls, anxiety, and speed recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Friendi.fi Corporation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Millbrae, United States) |
| Project start | April 5, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $365,505 |
| NIH project number | 5R44CA236253-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11173832 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) undergoing inpatient hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for cancer at one of the participating oncology/hematology units would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not having a stem cell transplant, children, outpatients, or those unable to interact with a bedside digital agent due to severe sensory or cognitive barriers may not benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
You would interact with a bedside digital relational agent that talks with you, guides simple exercises, reminds you about diet and hydration, and offers non-drug ways to manage pain, anxiety, sleep, and toileting. The agent is programmed to support eight care areas including breathing exercises, orientation prompts, psychosocial support, and staff communication. The device will be deployed on inpatient oncology/hematology units and use scripted conversations, imagery, and audio to deliver behavioral interventions. The project will compare outcomes for over 200 adult transplant patients against a randomized control group across two hospital units over a three-year clinical study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this tool could reduce delirium and falls, shorten hospital stays, lower anxiety and loneliness, and improve immune recovery after transplant.
How similar studies have gone: Digital behavioral interventions and relational agents have shown promise for adherence, education, and anxiety in other settings, but using a bedside conversational agent specifically to prevent delirium in transplant patients is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Friendi.fi Corporation
Millbrae, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Victor — Friendi.fi Corporation
- Study coordinator: Wang, Victor
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.