Nutrition plan to protect strength and daily function in older adults with cancer around surgery
Official title: Preserving Physical Function in Older Adults with Cancer: Impact of an Optimizing Nutrition Intervention Applied Before and After Surgery
Funded at Durham VA Medical Center · NIH-11092814 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A multi-nutrient program given before and after cancer surgery to help older adults keep muscle, strength, and everyday abilities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Durham VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX003981-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11092814 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults—particularly older adults—who are scheduled for cancer surgery and are at risk for malnutrition or muscle wasting are the intended participants.
✕Less likely to help
People not undergoing surgery, those with medical conditions that prevent safe participation in a nutrition program, or those with severe irreversible frailty may not gain benefit.
What this research studies
You would receive a tailored multi-nutrient nutrition program starting before your cancer surgery and continuing during recovery to address appetite, protein and calorie needs, and inflammation. The team will provide nutrition counseling and specific supplements aimed at preventing muscle loss and correcting deficiencies. They will track muscle mass, blood markers related to metabolism and inflammation, and tests of walking, strength, and daily activities over time. The goal is to help you recover physical function and return to your usual activities more quickly than with typical care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce muscle loss, speed strength recovery, and help older adults regain independence after cancer surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous nutrition and prehabilitation studies around surgery have shown some benefits for recovery, though a multi-targeted nutrient approach in older adults with cancer is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Durham VA Medical Center
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Starr, Kathryn N — Durham VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Starr, Kathryn N
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.