Predicting end-of-life timing to guide better care for metastatic breast cancer
Official title: Evaluation of end-of-life best practices and implementation of a tool to predict near-term death among patients with metastatic breast cancer in an oncology clinic
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11415410 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A clinician-facing project tests a breast cancer prognostic tool in everyday oncology care to help guide conversations and timely hospice referrals for patients nearing the end of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $162,540 |
| NIH project number | 5K08HS028862-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415410 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with metastatic breast cancer seen in oncology clinics.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to participating clinics or who do not encounter end-of-life decision points may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will integrate a validated breast cancer prognostic tool into routine oncology practice. Researchers will use electronic health record data to see how often serious illness conversations and hospice referrals happen and how these relate to prognostic risk scores. They will co-design an implementation plan with patients, caregivers, and care teams to make using the tool feasible and useful. A pilot will test how the tool is used in cancer clinics and measure how well it fits into care workflows and patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may have more timely and compassionate end-of-life care aligned with their goals.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests that prognostic tools can influence care planning, but implementation in routine practice remains challenging.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ray, Emily Miller — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Ray, Emily Miller
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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.