Postoperative cognitive function after major cancer surgery in older adults
Official title: Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction Following Major Cancer Surgery: A New Approach to Understanding Cancer-Associated Cognitive Decline
Funded at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst · NIH-11337675 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how brain function changes after major cancer surgery in people 65 and older and what this means for recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $726,563 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA311035-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11337675 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 65 and older scheduled for cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, with or without neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy.
✕Less likely to help
If you are younger than 65 or not undergoing major cancer surgery, this study may not benefit you.
What this research studies
This project follows people aged 65 and older who are about to have major bladder cancer surgery. It tracks changes in thinking skills, mood, and daily functioning before surgery, during recovery, and up to a year after. The research uses neuropsychological tests, frailty measures, and patient-reported outcomes, plus daily delirium checks in the hospital and blood tests to explore possible biological links. By enrolling 200 participants at MIBC surgery centers, the study aims to map how POCD develops and whether it contributes to longer-term cancer-related cognitive decline. The findings could point toward interventions to protect brain health during cancer treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, results could lead to strategies that protect memory and thinking abilities in older cancer patients undergoing surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows POCD is common in older adults after surgery, but this project is one of the first to link POCD with cancer-related cognitive decline.
Where this research is happening
-
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jim, Heather S.l. — H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Jim, Heather S.l.
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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.