Including informal caregivers in a video-based meditation to ease distress for breast cancer survivors
Official title: Leveraging social connection by including informal caregivers in an internet video conference-based compassion meditation intervention to reduce psychological distress in breast cancer survivors
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11370888 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A caregiver-inclusive online compassion-meditation program is being tested to help breast cancer survivors feel less anxiety and depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | July 11, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $351,948 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA264047-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370888 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who are breast cancer survivors and have an informal caregiver who can participate
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to internet-enabled devices or those not experiencing distress may see limited benefits
What this research studies
This project aims to help breast cancer survivors who continue to experience distress after treatment by delivering a caregiver-inclusive meditation program online. It builds on preexisting online meditation formats and adds a focus on social connection and compassionate skills to reduce feelings of isolation. Participants will likely be adults who have completed cancer treatment and may involve caregivers in sessions conducted over the internet. The study will track changes in distress and objective stress indicators, such as cortisol rhythms, to gauge impact. Results could inform scalable digital support options for survivors and their informal caregivers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, survivors and their caregivers could experience reduced distress and better daily functioning through a scalable online program.
How similar studies have gone: Previous online meditation approaches show promise, but caregiver-inclusive, compassion-focused formats need clearer evidence
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pace, Thaddeus — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Pace, Thaddeus
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Online compassion meditation for breast cancer survivors and their caregivers
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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.