Improving sleep therapy for cancer survivors

Innovating CBT-I for Cancer Survivors: An Optimization Trial

NIH-funded research Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11078331

This project is finding the best way to deliver virtual sleep therapy to help cancer survivors with insomnia, especially those from diverse backgrounds.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMassachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11078331 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many cancer survivors struggle with insomnia after treatment, and those from diverse backgrounds often face even greater challenges. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a proven method to help, but current ways of offering it can be difficult to access or don't fully address cancer-related sleep issues. This project is exploring different ways to deliver virtual CBT-I, such as individual or group sessions and with or without extra support, to make it more effective and accessible. The goal is to find the most helpful approach for improving sleep and overall well-being for cancer survivors.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are cancer survivors who have completed treatment, experience insomnia, and are interested in virtual cognitive behavioral therapy for sleep.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have insomnia or are not cancer survivors may not receive direct benefit from this specific intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective and accessible virtual sleep therapy options for cancer survivors struggling with insomnia.

How similar studies have performed: Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is an evidence-based treatment, and previous pilot work by this team showed feasibility and preliminary success with a virtual version for cancer survivors.

Where this research is happening

Boston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.