Improving mental health for survivors of stem cell transplants
Official title: Positive Psychology Intervention for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Survivors
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10861113 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a friendly phone program called PATH that helps people who have had stem cell transplants feel better by managing anxiety and depression, while also improving their overall quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 9, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $746,926 |
| NIH project number | 1R37CA288557-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10861113 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not undergone HSCT or those who do not experience psychological distress may not benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
This research focuses on a phone-delivered positive psychological intervention called PATH, designed to help survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) manage anxiety and depression while enhancing their quality of life. The intervention consists of short, accessible sessions that encourage practices like gratitude and personal strengths, making it easier for patients to engage without the need for in-person visits or extensive training. By addressing the psychological challenges faced by HSCT survivors, this project aims to provide a supportive resource that can be integrated into their recovery process.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the mental health and overall quality of life for HSCT survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that positive psychological interventions can effectively improve mental health outcomes, suggesting that this approach may yield beneficial results for HSCT survivors as well.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Amonoo, Hermioni L. — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Amonoo, Hermioni L.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gentle electrical stimulation to keep muscles strong during stem cell transplant
This project uses small, gentle electrical pulses to try to help Veterans keep muscle strength and reduce fatigue during and after stem cell transplants for blood cancers.
-
Inpatient yoga therapy for cancer patients undergoing stem cell transplant
A randomized trial will test whether an inpatient yoga program helps people receiving stem cell transplants feel better and cope with treatment.
-
A structured peer support program for people having stem cell transplants
A brief, supportive, phone-based peer program for adults with blood cancers undergoing stem cell transplant to help manage stress and improve recovery.
-
T Cell Precursors to Restore Immune Power After Stem Cell Transplants
This grant supports a patient-friendly approach to speed up immune recovery after a stem cell transplant by giving patients donor‑made T cell precursors that mature into healthy immune cells.
-
Engineering patient avatars to study GVHD after bone marrow transplant
Researchers are creating patient-specific lab models of the gut, liver, and blood to better understand and prevent GVHD after bone marrow transplant, with a focus on children.
-
Optimizing stem cell transplants to treat non-malignant blood diseases
A researcher is pursuing a five-year plan to improve stem cell transplantation strategies for non-cancer blood illnesses, with a focus on safer conditioning, better stem cell collection, and gene editing.
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.