FearLess: coping support for people with malignant brain tumors and their caregivers
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-11193808 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $288,940 |
| NIH project number | 5R34CA286879-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193808 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with primary malignant brain tumors and their unpaid caregivers who report significant fear of cancer recurrence and can attend scheduled therapy sessions are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with severe cognitive or language impairments that prevent participating in psychotherapy, those who are medically unstable, or those without notable fear of recurrence may not benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
You and a caregiver would be offered the FearLess program, a short manualized therapy that combines mindfulness and cognitive‑existential techniques to address fear of cancer recurrence. Participants are placed into one of two groups so the team can see whether people can join, stick with the program, and find it acceptable compared with a control approach. The researchers will test different recruitment methods, check which patients and caregivers can participate given neurological challenges, and refine the control condition before a larger trial. The study will collect feedback and measures of fear, daily function, coping, and treatment adherence to guide next steps.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, FearLess could reduce fear of cancer coming back, improve daily functioning and coping, and support better adherence to medical care for patients and their caregivers.
How similar studies have gone: Mindfulness and cognitive approaches have helped reduce fear of recurrence in other cancer groups, but this tailored FearLess program is new for neuro‑oncology patients and their caregivers.
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
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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.