NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Understanding loneliness in stroke survivors to improve care

Official title: Multidimensional Risk Profiles and Mechanisms for Loneliness in Stroke Survivors: A Socioecological Approach

Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11450888 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A study will identify different loneliness risk profiles in adults who had a stroke or TIA to help tailor support and interventions.

More Stroke research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionColumbia University Health Sciences
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project startSeptember 2, 2026
Project endAugust 31, 2030
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$3,356,083
NIH project number1RF1AG097599-01A1
Project IDNIH-11450888 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults aged 21 and older who have experienced a stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Less likely to help

Stroke/TIA survivors who do not experience loneliness or do not participate in follow-up assessments may see little direct benefit.

What this research studies

This project will enroll about 1,000 stroke/TIA survivors within a year after their event and collect data on personal, social, and community factors that contribute to loneliness. Using a socioecological framework, researchers will examine how risks cluster together across individual, relationship, and neighborhood levels. The goal is to map distinct loneliness risk profiles so future programs can target the right factors for each patient. Results could guide personalized resources and interventions to reduce loneliness and potentially improve cardiovascular health. The study leverages emergency department-based recruitment to reach a representative sample across diverse backgrounds.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more personalized support to reduce loneliness and its associated health risks after stroke or TIA.

How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show loneliness is linked to worse health, but this project aims to identify specific risk profiles in stroke survivors, which is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

  • Columbia University Health Sciences
    New York, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Birk, Jeffrey Lee — Columbia University Health Sciences
  • Study coordinator: Birk, Jeffrey Lee

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.