Morning light to reset the body clock for multiple myeloma patients having autologous stem cell transplant
Official title: Systematic Light Exposure Effects on Circadian Rhythms Entrainment, Inflammation, Neutropenic Fever and Symptom Burden among Multiple Myeloma Patients undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11137688 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses bright, circadian-friendly morning light in hospital rooms for people with multiple myeloma receiving autologous stem cell transplants to help them sleep better, lower inflammation, and reduce fevers and symptom burden.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 22, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $709,620 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA260961-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11137688 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with multiple myeloma who are scheduled to undergo autologous stem cell transplantation at a participating transplant center would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without multiple myeloma, not undergoing autologous stem cell transplant, or not hospitalized during the intervention would not be eligible and therefore would not benefit from this trial.
What this research studies
You would be randomly assigned to have your hospital room receive a morning, circadian-effective light intervention or standard hospital lighting during your transplant hospitalization. Researchers will collect samples (like blood and melatonin measures), track fevers, record sleep, mood, pain, and other symptoms, and measure inflammatory markers. The trial builds on a smaller pilot (R21) that showed higher nighttime melatonin, less depression, lower inflammatory cytokines, and fewer fevers with morning light. This is a larger, multi-site randomized trial aiming to confirm those findings in transplant patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the lighting intervention could improve sleep, lower inflammation and neutropenic fevers, and reduce symptom burden during and after transplant.
How similar studies have gone: A prior pilot (R21) from the same team showed improved nocturnal melatonin, reduced depression and inflammatory cytokines, better sleep, and fewer neutropenic fevers with morning circadian lighting.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Valdimarsdottir, Heiddis — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Valdimarsdottir, Heiddis
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Morning light to improve sleep and reduce inflammation in multiple myeloma patients after stem cell transplant
A multi-site study will test whether exposure to circadian-friendly morning light helps multiple myeloma patients recover after autologous stem cell transplantation by improving sleep and reducing inflammation.
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Effects of light exposure on sleep and inflammation in multiple myeloma patients after stem cell transplantation
This study is looking at whether getting morning light can help improve sleep, reduce inflammation, and lower the chances of fever in patients with multiple myeloma who are getting stem cell transplants, so they can feel better during their treatment.
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Integrative study of multiple myeloma genetics and disease biology
A team at Dana-Farber and partners is pursuing a long-term project to understand the genetic and molecular drivers of multiple myeloma and how treatments interact with disease biology.
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Comparative Modeling to Prevent, Detect Early, and Treat Multiple Myeloma
A research team will build and compare computer models to understand how multiple myeloma develops, can be detected earlier, and treated more effectively.
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How LDL Affects Multiple Myeloma: New Pathways to Keep Remission
A new grant is studying how cholesterol from LDL particles fuels multiple myeloma and how this interaction influences the tumor environment and immune response, with goals to help patients stay in remission.
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Therapy-induced senescence and immune activation in multiple myeloma
A study in people with multiple myeloma will explore how treatment-related senescence in cancer cells may stimulate the immune system and affect cancer return after standard frontline therapy.
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.