Online program using activity tracking, social support, and mindfulness for breast cancer survivors
Official title: Fit2ThriveMIND: Optimizing a mHealth Physical Activity Intervention with Mindful Awareness Lessons in Breast Cancer Survivors
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11159764 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program uses a smartphone app with activity tracking, social support options, and short mindful-awareness lessons to help breast cancer survivors increase and maintain regular physical activity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $656,176 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA266178-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159764 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who are breast cancer survivors (post-primary treatment), able to use a smartphone, and currently not meeting 150 minutes/week of moderate-to-vigorous activity are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who have medical limitations that prevent increased physical activity, who already meet activity guidelines, or who require supervised in-person exercise programs may not benefit.
What this research studies
You would use a smartphone-based program that combines goal-setting and activity tracking with different types of social support and brief mindful-awareness lessons. The research team will use the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to try different combinations of social support and mindfulness over a 6-month program and follow participants for another 6 months. Wearable accelerometers and app data will measure activity, adherence, and participant feedback to find which components work best. The goal is to create a low-cost, scalable approach that can be offered more widely if effective.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help breast cancer survivors reach and maintain recommended weekly physical activity, improving quality of life and reducing treatment-related side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous mHealth and social-support programs have helped cancer survivors increase activity, but using MOST to isolate the unique effects of social support and mindfulness is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Phillips, Siobhan Marie — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Phillips, Siobhan Marie
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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.