Tailored exercise plus NAD+ supplement to rebuild muscle and fitness in adolescent and young adult stem-cell transplant survivors

Intensive tailored exercise training with NAD+ precursor supplementation to improve muscle mass and fitness in adolescent and young adult survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

NIH-funded research Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-11176198

This project tests whether a personalized home exercise program combined with an NAD+ precursor supplement helps teenage and young adult stem-cell transplant survivors regain muscle mass and fitness.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionChildren's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Philadelphia, United States)
Project IDNIH-11176198 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If I've had a hematopoietic stem cell transplant as a teen or young adult, this program offers a personalized home-based aerobic and resistance exercise plan plus an oral NAD+ precursor called nicotinamide riboside. I would follow an intensive, tailored exercise schedule and take the supplement while the team measures my muscle mass, strength, fitness, and muscle energy function over time. The researchers will use fitness tests, body composition scans, and blood or tissue measures to track changes and safety. The aim is to find safe ways to rebuild muscle and reduce long-term health risks linked to early sarcopenia after transplant.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Teen and young adult survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation who have low muscle mass or reduced fitness and can participate in a home exercise program are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People currently in active cancer treatment, with unstable medical conditions that make exercise unsafe, or with contraindications to nicotinamide riboside may not be able to participate or benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could rebuild muscle strength and endurance and lower long-term risks like premature cardiovascular disease in transplant survivors.

How similar studies have performed: Exercise is well known to improve muscle and mitochondrial function and short-term nicotinamide riboside has increased NAD+ in humans, but combining intensive tailored exercise with NAD+ precursors in AYA transplant survivors is a relatively new and not yet widely tested approach.

Where this research is happening

Philadelphia, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.