Support for young adult cancer survivors to manage care costs and preserve fertility
Official title: AYA CARE: Enhancing Cancer Affordability and Fertility Preservation for AYAs in Long-Term Survivorship
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11348332 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project adapts an online tool and provider training to help adolescent and young adult cancer survivors handle medical costs and find fertility‑preservation options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | August 9, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $98,940 |
| NIH project number | 3U19CA291430-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11348332 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (AYA) in long‑term survivorship who are concerned about cancer care costs or are interested in fertility preservation would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not in the AYA age range, those with no fertility concerns, or patients without reliable internet access may not benefit from this web‑based intervention.
What this research studies
If you are a young adult cancer survivor, this project will tailor an existing web tool called the CARE Tool to address the financial challenges and fertility concerns that come after treatment. The CARE Tool offers plain‑language education about insurance, step‑by‑step guidance to find resources that lower out‑of‑pocket costs, and coaching to help you talk with clinicians about care costs. The team will pair the online tool with clinician and system training so providers know how to support patients' financial and fertility needs. The project will track results for patients, clinicians, and health systems to see how the tailored tool works in real-world survivorship care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could reduce financial strain and improve access to fertility‑preservation services and insurance navigation for AYA survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Similar web‑based financial navigation tools and patient navigation programs have shown promise for lowering financial distress, but applying and testing a CARE Tool specifically tailored to AYA survivorship and fertility is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Drake, Bettina F. — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Drake, Bettina F.
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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.