Improving Sleep for Weight Loss in Breast Cancer Survivors
Official title: The Effects of Treating Insomnia on Behavioral Weight Loss Outcomes in Survivors of Breast Cancer
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11128798 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores if treating sleep problems first can help breast cancer survivors achieve better weight loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $676,985 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA281220-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128798 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adult female breast cancer survivors who are overweight or obese and also experience insomnia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have insomnia or are not overweight/obese may not directly benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
Many breast cancer survivors experience weight gain and sleep difficulties like insomnia, which can affect their health and recovery. While losing weight is important, it can be challenging for survivors, and current weight loss programs don't always work for everyone. This project aims to see if improving sleep with a therapy called CBT-I *before* starting a weight loss program can make the weight loss efforts more successful. We hope this approach will help survivors achieve healthier weights and improve their overall well-being.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a new, more effective way for breast cancer survivors to manage their weight and improve their health.
How similar studies have gone: While cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia has shown success in breast cancer survivors, combining it *before* a behavioral weight loss program is a novel approach not yet tested on a large scale.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wilder Coughlin, Janelle — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Wilder Coughlin, Janelle
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving Sleep to Help Weight Loss in Breast Cancer Survivors
A study tests whether improving sleep with a proven therapy helps breast cancer survivors lose more weight when they start a weight loss program.
-
Improving weight loss outcomes by treating insomnia in breast cancer survivors
This study is looking at how improving sleep through therapy can help women who have survived breast cancer lose weight more effectively, making it easier for them to stay healthy and reduce the chance of cancer coming back.
-
Weight-loss program for Latina breast cancer survivors using remote, community-driven methods
A remote, community-driven weight-loss program tailored for Latina breast cancer survivors will test adaptive, evidence-based strategies to help participants lose weight and improve health.
-
Helping Breast Cancer Survivors Achieve a Healthy Weight
This project offers a personalized, remote weight loss program for Latina breast cancer survivors to help them reach a healthy weight.
-
Evaluating weight loss programs for Latina breast cancer survivors
This study is looking at how well personalized weight loss programs delivered online can help Latina breast cancer survivors improve their health and maintain a healthy weight, and it’s designed to adapt based on what works best for each participant.
-
Evaluating weight loss programs for Latina breast cancer survivors
This study is looking at a special weight loss program designed just for Latina breast cancer survivors, helping them make healthy changes to their diet and exercise from home over a year, to support their unique health needs.
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.