Improving early palliative care for patients with advanced heart failure
Official title: Optimizing an Early Palliative Care Intervention for Advanced HF Patients
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11090339 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to improve support for people with advanced heart failure, especially those from underserved communities, by training friendly helpers who can coach and guide them to enhance their quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | April 7, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00NR019854-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11090339 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are living with advanced heart failure, particularly those from underserved populations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage heart failure or those not interested in palliative care interventions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing early palliative care interventions for individuals suffering from advanced heart failure, particularly those from underserved communities. The approach involves training lay navigators who will provide coaching and support to patients, aiming to improve their quality of life. The study will utilize a method called the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to refine and test the effectiveness of these interventions through randomized controlled trials. By addressing the specific needs of these patients, the research seeks to fill significant gaps in palliative care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved quality of life and better management of symptoms for patients with advanced heart failure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in optimizing palliative care interventions for chronic illnesses, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wells, Rachel D — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Wells, Rachel D
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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UNCOVER-PC: Helping people with advanced cancer and their families get better palliative care
A project at Emory aims to find the best ways to give palliative care early to people with advanced cancer and to understand how it helps patients and their caregivers.
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Digitally supported community workers helping HPB cancer patients receive early palliative care
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-
ICUconnect 2: helping older ICU patients and families get better palliative care
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Caring for Older African Americans: Training Clinicians to Provide Quality End-of-Life Care
This grant aims to adapt and deliver a training program for clinicians so they can better understand and meet end-of-life care needs of older African American adults in both the South and North.
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Support-T: a mobile tool to help people with progressive pulmonary fibrosis and their caregivers get palliative care and planning
A mobile app called SUPPORT-T helps people with progressive pulmonary fibrosis and their caregivers access palliative care and plan for the future.
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Palliative care support for patients getting CAR T therapy for blood cancers
A clinician-led program designed to improve quality of life and ease the burden on patients and caregivers during and after CAR T cell therapy for blood cancers.
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.