New ways to help survivors of childhood cancer move from pediatric to adult care
Official title: Novel linkages and navigation to improve childhood and adolescent cancer survivors’ care transitions: A pilot randomized controlled trial across three health care systems
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11442842 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pilot randomized trial across three health systems tests a new approach to help childhood and adolescent cancer survivors smoothly transition to adult survivorship care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,818,902 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA303339-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11442842 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are CCS who were treated for cancer in childhood or adolescence and are now adults navigating survivorship care.
✕Less likely to help
Some CCS who are already consistently engaged in adult survivorship care may see limited additional benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on survivors who were treated as children or teens and now need ongoing adult care. It uses data and interviews to understand how transitions happen and what barriers survivors face, with a plan to tailor support to each person’s life circumstances. The study will map past care patterns, update contact information in a national registry, and identify adults who haven’t had a recent survivorship visit to learn what helps or hinders engagement. Findings will guide improvements in how health systems coordinate care as survivors age.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could improve access to and continuity of survivorship care for aging CCS, reducing gaps in monitoring and follow-up.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that tailored transition strategies can improve engagement, but this pilot will test a coordinated, data-driven approach across multiple health systems.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eary, Rebecca Lynne — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Eary, Rebecca Lynne
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Web-based pain coping skills training to help breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors feel better and stay adherent
A patient-friendly, online program uses coping skills to relieve AI-related joint pain and improve taking AI medication.
-
FoRtitude: an online program to ease fear of cancer recurrence for breast cancer survivors
A woman who has finished breast cancer treatment uses an online program to learn easy CBT-based steps to feel less worried about cancer coming back.
-
Brief Behavioral Activation to help older cancer survivors feel better
A study will test a short behavioral therapy to help adults aged 65 and older who have survived cancer manage depression and stay engaged with care.
-
Help with health insurance for young adult cancer survivors
A program helps young adult cancer survivors understand their health insurance, reduce medical costs, and stay on track with recommended follow-up care.
-
Tele-CBT program to reduce body image distress after head and neck cancer
This project offers a five-session remote cognitive behavioral therapy (BRIGHT) to help head and neck cancer survivors who are struggling with appearance, speech, or swallowing changes.
-
FoRtitude: An eHealth program to help breast cancer survivors manage fear of recurrence
This program offers breast cancer survivors an online tool to help them cope with the worry that their cancer might come back.
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.