Palliative care support for patients getting CAR T therapy for blood cancers
Official title: Defining the Role of Palliative care for Patients with Hematologic Malignancies Undergoing Adoptive Cellular Therapy
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11385006 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A clinician-led program designed to improve quality of life and ease the burden on patients and caregivers during and after CAR T cell therapy for blood cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $293,053 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA279772-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385006 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with hematologic cancers who are receiving or planned to receive adoptive cellular therapy (e.g., CAR T therapy).
✕Less likely to help
Patients not eligible for ACT or those not experiencing symptom and caregiver burden related to ACT may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports refining and testing a tailored palliative care program (PEACE) for people undergoing adoptive cellular therapy for hematologic malignancies. It aims to tailor palliative input to the specific illness course of ACT, reduce symptom burden, and lessen caregiver stress. The team will build on previous findings, pilot the refined intervention, and measure its effects on patient quality of life and caregiver outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience better symptom control and life quality, with smoother end-of-life care and less caregiver strain.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show palliative care improves outcomes in oncology, but tailored interventions for ACT patients are not yet widely implemented.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Johnson, Patrick Connor — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Johnson, Patrick Connor
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how palliative care can help patients with blood cancers receiving advanced cell therapies
This study is looking to make life better for patients with blood cancers who are getting CAR T-cell therapy by testing a new supportive care program called PEACE, which aims to help manage their symptoms and improve their overall experience, especially towards the end of life.
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UNCOVER-PC: Helping people with advanced cancer and their families get better palliative care
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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.