FearLess: a brain tumor patient and caregiver mindfulness program
Official title: Investigating Feasibility and Acceptability of the FearLess Protocol for Patients with Primary Malignant Brain Tumors and Their Caregivers
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11405501 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, patient-friendly mental health program called FearLess aims to help people with primary malignant brain tumors and their caregivers cope with fear of cancer recurrence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $287,457 |
| NIH project number | 5R34CA286879-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11405501 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with primary malignant brain tumors and their caregivers who are eligible for the FearLess protocol.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who cannot participate due to cognitive, language, or other health barriers may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a mindfulness-based, cognitive-existential approach tailored for brain tumor patients and their caregivers to address fear and improve daily functioning. It is designed as a two-arm randomized study to evaluate how well recruitment methods work, how suitable the participants are, and whether a control group is feasible. The research team will refine who to include, how to enroll, and how to deliver FearLess before larger trials. The study is led by Virginia Commonwealth University and focuses on real patients and families affected by brain cancer to ensure the intervention is practical in neuro-oncology settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, FearLess could become a practical, scalable way to reduce fear and improve adherence to care for brain tumor patients and support for their caregivers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests mindfulness-based approaches can help with cancer-related distress, butBrain-tumor-specific feasibility and acceptability data are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Loughan, Ashlee Ruth — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Loughan, Ashlee Ruth
Related research
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SleepCARE: a patient-friendly way to help caregivers of brain tumor patients sleep better
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FearLess: coping support for people with malignant brain tumors and their caregivers
This project will try a new FearLess therapy to help people with malignant brain tumors and their caregivers manage fear of the cancer coming back.
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This study is looking at a helpful program called the FearLess protocol, which aims to support patients with brain tumors and their caregivers in managing the fear of cancer coming back, using mindfulness and other techniques to improve their daily lives and treatment follow-through.
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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.