Synchronous Dyadic Monitoring of People and Dogs to Understand and Improve Animal-Assisted Interventions
Official title: SCH: Synchronous Dyadic Physiological Monitoring for Real Time In Vivo Measurement and
Funded at North Carolina State University Raleigh · NIH-11389270 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project will test a wearable sensor system to track both a cancer patient and a therapy dog during animal-assisted programs to learn how their bodies respond together in real time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $299,687 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA297854-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389270 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Cancer patients who participate in Animal-Assisted Interventions and are able to engage with a therapy dog.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who cannot participate in AAIs or have conditions preventing engagement with dogs may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a wearable, wireless sensor platform to collect data on heart rate, variability, activity, respiration, and skin conductance from both a patient and a therapy dog during Animal-Assisted Interventions. The goal is to create methods that can measure how the human-dog bond affects stress and well-being in cancer care settings. Researchers will develop and test analytic approaches to interpret the paired physiological signals and relate them to intervention activities and patient outcomes. The work is designed to produce practical tools for clinicians and therapists to optimize AAI experiences for patients who may benefit from these interactions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better-tailored AAI programs that maximize comfort and symptom relief for cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show positive effects of AAIs, but standardized, real-time dyadic monitoring is a new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina State University Raleigh
Raleigh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roberts, David L — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Roberts, David L
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.