Improving adherence to oral chemotherapy in young cancer patients using mobile health tools
Official title: Using Real Time Mobile Health Approaches to Understand and Promote Oral Chemotherapy Adherence in Adolescents and young Adults with Leukemia
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-11126183 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to help teenagers and young adults with leukemia take their oral chemotherapy medication, 6-mercaptopurine, more regularly by using mobile technology to understand what makes it hard for them to stick to their treatment, so they can get helpful reminders and support to stay on track and improve their chances of recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $74,327 |
| NIH project number | 3K08CA241335-06S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11126183 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents and young adults diagnosed with leukemia who are prescribed 6-mercaptopurine as part of their treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing treatment with 6-mercaptopurine or those outside the adolescent and young adult age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing adherence to an oral chemotherapy medication called 6-mercaptopurine among adolescents and young adults with leukemia. By utilizing real-time mobile health technologies, the study aims to identify factors that affect medication adherence, such as fatigue and motivation, through regular assessments with patients and their caregivers. The goal is to develop personalized mobile interventions that provide timely support and reminders to improve adherence to treatment, ultimately aiming to reduce relapse rates and improve survival outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved adherence to life-saving chemotherapy, resulting in better health outcomes for young cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using mobile health interventions to improve medication adherence in various patient populations, indicating potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Psihogios, Alexandra — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Psihogios, Alexandra
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Using mobile health tools to improve oral chemotherapy adherence in young cancer patients
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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.