Helping young cancer survivors stay engaged in their healthcare
Official title: Re-Engaging AYA Survivors in Cancer-Related Healthcare (REACH): A Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART)
Funded at Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-11062443 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping young cancer survivors stay on top of their follow-up care by sending friendly reminder texts and providing helpful information, and if they need a little extra support, they'll get a more hands-on program for 16 weeks to make sure they get the care they need.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | April 21, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $712,401 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA273328-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11062443 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescent and young adult cancer survivors who are transitioning from pediatric to adult healthcare systems.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are currently engaged in regular follow-up care or those who have not survived cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving healthcare engagement for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors who often struggle to access necessary follow-up care. It employs a two-stage intervention approach, starting with simple reminder text messages and informational resources to encourage appointments. If participants do not respond to the initial intervention, they will receive a more intensive support program over 16 weeks. The goal is to ensure these survivors receive the ongoing care they need to manage late effects from their cancer treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the health outcomes and quality of life for young cancer survivors by ensuring they receive timely follow-up care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that digital health interventions and reminder systems can effectively improve patient engagement in healthcare, suggesting a promising approach for this population.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schwartz, Lisa a — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Schwartz, Lisa a
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.