Making depression care easier for cancer patients using digital tools
Official title: Harnessing digital health and implementation science to promote uptake of depression treatment in cancer settings: iCan DepCare
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11423731 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at Columbia University will test how to quickly connect cancer patients with depression care using digital health tools and real-world care pathways.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $659,688 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA294004-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423731 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cancer who have elevated depressive symptoms and are receiving care in participating oncology settings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without depressive symptoms or those not engaged in oncology clinics participating in the trial may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you have cancer and show signs of depression, this project tests a practical plan to help doctors, nurses, and care teams identify and refer you to proven depression treatments. The study focuses on integrating simple digital tools and real-world workflows so that evidence-based depression care can be offered more consistently within cancer clinics. It looks at how to streamline communication, triage referrals, and help clinics follow guidelines without adding extra burden on patients. The goal is to increase the number of patients who receive effective depression treatment during cancer care and improve overall well-being.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help more cancer patients get timely, evidence-based depression care, improving quality of life and treatment adherence.
How similar studies have gone: Past research supports targeted implementation strategies, but this study tests a multi-level approach in real-world cancer care settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moise, Nathalie — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Moise, Nathalie
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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.