Support-T: a mobile tool to help people with progressive pulmonary fibrosis and their caregivers get palliative care and planning
Official title: Feasibility and Acceptability of A Mobile Application "SUPPORT-T" to increase access of Palliative Care in patients with Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis (PPF) and their caregivers
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11396964 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile app called SUPPORT-T helps people with progressive pulmonary fibrosis and their caregivers access palliative care and plan for the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $342,780 |
| NIH project number | 5R34HL174722-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396964 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with progressive pulmonary fibrosis and their informal caregivers who are involved in care decisions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to smartphones or those unable to use mobile apps may not benefit from SUPPORT-T.
What this research studies
This project tests a user-friendly app designed for people with progressive pulmonary fibrosis and their caregivers to improve access to palliative care, education, and planning for future health decisions. The team will recruit participants from rural South Carolina and urban sites to see how easy the tool is to use and whether it fits into real-life routines. The study will gather feedback from patients and caregivers on usability, acceptability, and whether the app supports better symptom management and planning discussions with clinicians. Results will inform how digital health tools can bridge gaps in information and access for people living with serious lung disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the app could make palliative care more reachable and help patients and families plan ahead, reducing distress and improving quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Digital health tools adapted from evidence-based palliative care programs have shown promise in improving access and education for patients with serious illnesses.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lindell, Kathleen Oare — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Lindell, Kathleen Oare
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Molecular clues to progressive lung scarring
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-
p53 acetylation and alveolar stem cell aging in progressive lung fibrosis
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-
Defining how early pulmonary fibrosis develops at the molecular level
Researchers are studying early stages of pulmonary fibrosis at the molecule-by-molecule level to understand how the disease starts and progresses in people.
-
How lung cells change in early and worsening pulmonary fibrosis
Researchers will map how specific lung cells and their local neighborhoods change over time in people at risk for or with pulmonary fibrosis using advanced tissue-based gene mapping.
-
The effects of air pollution on progressive pulmonary fibrosis
This study is looking at how air pollution, especially tiny particles and nitrogen dioxide, might lead to a serious lung condition called progressive pulmonary fibrosis, particularly in people living in areas that are more vulnerable to pollution.
-
Understanding how lung fibrosis progresses at a molecular level
This study is looking at how a substance called hyaluronan affects lung inflammation and healing in people with progressive pulmonary fibrosis, with the hope of finding new ways to help improve lung health.
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.