Making clinical trials easier to join for teens and young adults with cancer
Clinical Trial Enrollment among Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer
This project will find out why teens and young adults (ages 12–29) with cancer in Louisiana, New Mexico, and Tennessee do or don't join clinical trials by looking at access, costs and beliefs, and family and doctor communication.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177619 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you're a young person with cancer, this work looks at clinical trial enrollment for people aged 12–29 in Louisiana, New Mexico, and Tennessee. The team will measure differences in who joins trials across these states and link those patterns to where trials are available, out-of-pocket costs or financial worries, personal beliefs about trials, and how doctors and families talk about options. Researchers will use hospital and registry data and collect perspectives from patients, families, and clinicians to see which barriers are most important. The goal is to point to practical changes that could make trials easier to access and more fairly designed for AYAs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people aged 12–29 with a cancer diagnosis who live in or receive cancer care in Louisiana, New Mexico, or Tennessee.
Not a fit: People younger than 12 or older than 29, or those who live and receive care outside the three study states, are unlikely to directly participate or receive benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make it easier for teens and young adults with cancer to join trials, which can improve chances of better treatment and long-term follow-up.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work shows AYAs who join therapeutic trials have better outcomes, but few studies have tested broad approaches to increase enrollment across diverse AYA populations.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mack, Jennifer W — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Mack, Jennifer W
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 below.