Helping Advanced Cancer Patients and Families Plan Ahead with a Resilience-Building Web Program
Official title: Facilitating Advance Care Planning Discussions Between Patients with Advanced Cancer and Their Family Caregivers Using a Resilience-Building Intervention
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11417326 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A web-based resilience program is being tested to help people with advanced cancer and their family caregivers have meaningful conversations and complete advance directives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,997 |
| NIH project number | 5R00NR020358-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417326 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 and older with advanced cancer and their family caregiver(s) willing to engage in ACP discussions online.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to the internet or who are not interested in ACP discussions may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a user-friendly online resilience program designed for patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers. It focuses on improving advance care planning conversations and coping together as a pair. The team will measure feasibility and preliminary signs of benefit, including how well participants engage with the web tool and whether ACP discussions and directives improve. If successful, the program could support more aligned and compassionate end-of-life care while easing caregiver emotional strain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients and families may experience clearer care preferences, reduced distress, and better communication around end-of-life wishes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies suggest resilience-building approaches can reduce distress and support ACP, but this specific web-based dyadic intervention is novel in this context.
Where this research is happening
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University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Longcoy, Li-Ting Huang — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Longcoy, Li-Ting Huang
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Web program to help people with advanced cancer and their caregivers talk about future medical wishes
This project tries a web-based resilience program to help adults with advanced cancer and their family caregivers talk about future care and complete advance directives.
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Helping advanced cancer patients and their families plan for future care
This study is testing a friendly online program to help people with advanced cancer and their family caregivers feel stronger and more confident in making important medical decisions together.
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Understanding and improving support for male dementia caregivers
This project focuses on what helps or hinders men who care for people with dementia, with new ideas to reach and support them better.
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Paths to resilience through social networks for older adults with advanced cancer
This grant looks at how the people and relationships around older adults with advanced cancer help shape their health choices and use of care near the end of life.
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Psycho-Spiritual Support for Patients with Advanced Cancer and Their Family Caregivers
A program tests a four-session, family-focused meditation delivered by video to help people with advanced cancer and their caregivers feel less depressive and spiritually distressed.
-
Caregivers and Patients Support for Advanced Cancer
A doctor-in-training is developing a telehealth five-session program to help patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers manage their psychosocial needs and quality of life.
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.