Understanding how age affects cognitive function in patients after stem cell and CAR-T treatments
Official title: Exploring Age Differences in Patient Reported Cognitive Function Trajectories among Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell patients and Linking Two Key Measures
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-10593018 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how memory and thinking skills change over time for people who have had stem cell or CAR-T therapy, especially focusing on how these changes might be different for younger and older patients, and it will use feedback from patients to understand their experiences better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $429,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG077024-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10593018 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include older adults who have received HCT or CAR-T therapy for hematologic diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 21 years old or those who have not undergone HCT or CAR-T therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the cognitive function trajectories of patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, focusing on how these trajectories differ by age. It emphasizes the importance of patient-reported outcomes (PROs), which capture patients' own assessments of their symptoms and functioning. By utilizing a large clinical registry, the study aims to gather more representative data on cognitive dysfunction, particularly among older and diverse patient populations. The research will employ the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) to assess cognitive function and its variations across different age groups.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and management of cognitive dysfunction in older patients undergoing HCT and CAR-T treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding patient-reported outcomes can significantly enhance treatment approaches, indicating potential success for this study's methodology.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cusatis, Rachel Nicole — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Cusatis, Rachel Nicole
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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.