Supporting adolescent and young adult cancer survivors in moving to ongoing care
Official title: Symptom Management and Transitioning to Engagement with Post-treatment Care for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors (AYA STEPS)
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11395444 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Duke-led project helps teenagers and young adults who survived cancer stay connected to care and manage long-term symptoms after they finish treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | August 6, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $664,941 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA283353-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395444 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
AYAs aged 15-39 who have completed cancer treatment and are at risk for or experiencing late effects.
✕Less likely to help
AYAs who are not seeking ongoing survivorship care or who are not within the target age range may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on AYA cancer survivors aged roughly 15 to 39 who finish treatment and often fall out of regular follow-up. It aims to address persistent physical symptoms, emotional distress, and the challenge of transitioning to adult-oriented healthcare. Through tailored support, it seeks to improve follow-up engagement, symptom management, and access to clinicians who understand late effects unique to AYAs. The study will analyze barriers to care and test approaches that facilitate ongoing, coordinated survivorship care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce long-term health problems and improve quality of life for AYAs by keeping them connected to appropriate survivorship care.
How similar studies have gone: There is a recognized need for survivorship support for AYAs; prior work highlights gaps in transition to follow-up care and symptom management.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dorfman, Caroline — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Dorfman, Caroline
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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.