NIH-funded research R21 grant

Understanding how breast cancer affects everyday thinking and quality of life for survivors

Official title: Defining Cognitive Patient Reported Outcomes of Breast Cancer Survivors in the Context of Everyday Functioning and Quality of Life

Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-10808134 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at the thinking and memory challenges that breast cancer survivors may face after treatment, and how these issues affect their everyday lives, so if you're a survivor, your daily updates over two months can help us understand and improve support for you and others in the future.

More Breast Cancer research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Texas at Austin
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Austin, United States)
Project startMarch 13, 2023
Project endFebruary 28, 2026
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$193,768
NIH project number5R21NR020497-02
Project IDNIH-10808134 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are breast cancer survivors aged 21 and older who have completed chemotherapy within the past year.

Less likely to help

Patients who are currently undergoing chemotherapy or have not been diagnosed with breast cancer may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates the cognitive challenges faced by breast cancer survivors after treatment, focusing on how these challenges impact their daily lives and overall quality of life. By using patient-reported outcomes, the study aims to identify which cognitive issues are most significant and how they can be measured effectively. Participants will be asked to provide daily updates on their activities and mental health for two months, allowing researchers to capture real-time data on their cognitive functioning. This approach seeks to improve the understanding of cognitive impairments related to cancer treatment and enhance future interventions.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better assessment tools and interventions that improve the cognitive functioning and quality of life for breast cancer survivors.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding patient-reported outcomes can significantly enhance the management of cognitive impairments in cancer survivors, indicating a promising avenue for this study.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Texas at Austin
    Austin, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Henneghan, Ashley M. — University of Texas at Austin
  • Study coordinator: Henneghan, Ashley M.

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.