Pathways: a hopeful program to help advanced lung cancer patients pursue personal goals and improve well-being
Official title: Pathways, a Hope-Based Intervention to Support Personal Goal Pursuit, Mental Health, and Quality of Life during Advanced Lung Cancer Treatment
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11379102 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A brief, hope-based program helps adults with advanced lung cancer stay connected to goals in family, work, and daily life to support mental health and quality of life during treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | July 25, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $573,071 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA283929-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379102 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older with advanced lung cancer who are actively followed in care settings and are receiving modern treatments like immunotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing goal disruption or not engaged in active treatment may see limited or no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This grant tests a short, hope-filled intervention called Pathways that is delivered by common care providers such as nurses, social workers, and therapists during cancer treatment. The aim is to help patients maintain and pursue personal goals in areas like family, work, and leisure, reducing disruption caused by illness and treatment. By focusing on goal pursuit and positive coping, the study seeks to improve mood, anxiety, and overall quality of life for people undergoing advanced lung cancer care. The approach fits into real-world clinical settings, making it easier for clinics to adopt if effective.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Pathways could become a standard supportive care option that helps patients maintain everyday quality of life during treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous psychosocial care work has shown benefits in improving mood and quality of life, but this specific hope-based, goal-pursuit intervention in advanced lung cancer is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mclouth, Laurie — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Mclouth, Laurie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Pathways: Supporting Mental Health and Quality of Life for People with Advanced Lung Cancer
This project offers a new program called "Pathways" to help people with advanced lung cancer achieve their personal goals and improve their well-being during treatment.
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A hope-based program to help lung cancer patients pursue personal goals and improve their mental health.
This study is testing a new program called 'Pathways' to help people with advanced lung cancer focus on their personal goals and improve their mental well-being while they receive treatment.
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Spatial control of immunogenic cancer killing for locally advanced lung cancer
A new approach uses radiation-triggered nanoparticles to deliver cancer-killing drugs directly to lung tumors while sparing healthy tissue.
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Predicting how function, thinking, and life quality change in older adults with advanced lung cancer
This project aims to better predict how older adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer will fare in daily living, thinking, and overall well‑being during treatment.
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Comprehensive genetic testing for advanced lung cancer
This project looks at how using wide genetic testing that checks hundreds of cancer genes might help people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and influence care decisions and costs.
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Inhalable treatment for advanced lung cancer using engineered Influenza A virus
This study is testing a new inhalable treatment for lung cancer that has spread, using a specially designed virus to help your body fight the cancer while keeping healthy cells safe, and it’s aimed at improving survival for patients like you.
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.