Peer support and digital CBT to help adolescents and young adults with sickle cell pain
Official title: Peer suppoRt for adolescents and Emerging adults with Sickle cell pain: promoting ENgagement in Cognitive behavioral thErapy
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11618674 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A multisite study will test a digital cognitive behavioral therapy program for Black adolescents and young adults with sickle cell pain, guided by peer supporters.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $351,124 |
| NIH project number | 3UH3HL165839-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11618674 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Black adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease who experience pain crises and are engaged with or able to engage with community-based organizations.
✕Less likely to help
Participants not experiencing significant pain or those unable to participate in digital/peer-supported programs may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on AYAs aged 16-39 with sickle cell disease who experience painful crises. It will pair participants with peer supporters and deliver a scalable, digital CBT program to reduce pain and stress and improve mood. The study uses a randomized design to compare the digital CBT with personalized peer support against usual care, aiming to enhance engagement and adherence through community-based organizations. Outcomes will include pain, mood, and functioning, with data collected remotely across several sites. If successful, it could make effective, accessible pain management more available to this high-need group.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce pain and improve mood and daily functioning for Black AYAs with SCD.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows digital CBT can reduce stress and pain in chronic conditions, and peer-supported digital therapies are feasible and acceptable in SCD; this study builds on that foundation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rollman, Bruce Lawrence — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Rollman, Bruce Lawrence
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.