Mind-body care for kids with abdominal pain
Official title: MIND Health: Mind-body Advances in Digestive Health
Funded at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · NIH-11443326 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A digital mindfulness program for children, teens, and young adults with abdominal pain and related symptoms is being tested to help reduce symptoms and improve daily life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 2, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $723,731 |
| NIH project number | 1R34AT013445-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11443326 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents and young adults with abdominal pain disorders (AP-DGBIs) who can access digital health tools.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without access to or comfort using digital MBIs may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a digital mindfulness-based program tailored for youths with abdominal pain disorders. It aims to address GI symptoms, distress, and daily functioning by teaching brain-gut strategies that can be practiced at home. The study uses a two-arm randomized design to compare the mindfulness program against a control, focusing on adolescents and young adults who experience gut-train interaction disorders. If successful, the program could offer an accessible, scalable option to alleviate pain and improve quality of life. The work is led by Bonnie S. Esser at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and is planned to run from 2026 to 2029.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience reduced abdominal symptoms and better daily functioning.
How similar studies have gone: Digital mindfulness interventions have shown promise in adults with GI symptoms and in youth with other chronic conditions; pediatric data are growing but still evolving.
Where this research is happening
-
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Essner, Bonnie S — Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Essner, Bonnie S
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.