Mobile app teaching caregivers massage techniques for chemotherapy-related nerve pain
Official title: mHealth app for caregiver instruction in manual therapy for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
Funded at Collinge and Associates · NIH-11115814 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a friendly mobile app called 'Peripheral Neuropathy Relief' to help caregivers learn easy massage techniques that can ease the discomfort of cancer survivors dealing with nerve pain from chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Collinge and Associates NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Eugene, United States) |
| Project start | August 18, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,030,459 |
| NIH project number | 5R44CA268678-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11115814 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer survivors who are experiencing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and have caregivers willing to learn and apply the massage techniques.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing chemotherapy or do not have symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a mobile app that educates caregivers on how to perform specific manual therapy techniques to alleviate chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) symptoms. The app, called 'Peripheral Neuropathy Relief (PNR)', provides detailed information about CIPN and step-by-step instructions for safe and effective massage techniques. By empowering caregivers with this knowledge, the project aims to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors experiencing CIPN, especially as access to professional therapy is often limited. The app will be evaluated for its effectiveness in real-world settings, ensuring that caregivers can provide meaningful support at home.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance the quality of life for cancer survivors suffering from CIPN by enabling caregivers to provide effective at-home support.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research in the field of Oncology Massage has shown promising results in alleviating symptoms of CIPN, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Collinge and Associates
Eugene, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Collinge, William B. — Collinge and Associates
- Study coordinator: Collinge, William B.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Non-invasive, microscopic biomarkers to detect CIPN in chemotherapy patients
This grant aims to develop a non-invasive imaging method to measure nerve changes in patients undergoing chemotherapy to better understand and monitor chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
-
Longitudinal study of how body-sense relates to chemotherapy nerve damage
This study follows people with breast or gastrointestinal cancer and healthy controls to see if brain processing of body sensations contributes to chemotherapy-induced nerve damage.
-
A new screen for chemotherapy-related nerve problems in young children
A clinician-scientist at Yale is developing a child-friendly survey to quickly screen for nerve-related side effects from cancer treatment in kids from birth to age 5.
-
How the immune system’s CD4+ T cells in women might prevent chemotherapy-related nerve pain
A study in mice explores whether female immune cells in nerve tissue can lessen pain from chemotherapy, with potential implications for preventing CIPN in women.
-
Axonal transport and chemotherapy-related nerve pain
This grant studies why certain cancer patients develop painful nerve damage from chemotherapy and explores ways to prevent or treat it.
-
Remote monitoring and nurse follow-up to manage chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
A program uses symptom reporting tools with nurse follow-up to reduce and better manage chemotherapy-induced neuropathy for cancer survivors, during and after treatment.
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.