Understanding Social Connections for Childhood Brain Tumor Survivors
Official title: Social Connectedness in Pediatric Brain Cancer Survivors
Funded at Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-11129613 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how social connections affect the health and happiness of adults who survived brain tumors as children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $669,569 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA256889-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11129613 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this type of research would be adult survivors of pediatric brain tumors, likely aged 21 and older, who are interested in sharing their experiences with social connectedness.
✕Less likely to help
Patients currently undergoing active brain tumor treatment or those without a history of pediatric brain tumors would likely not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many adults who had brain tumors as children find it hard to connect with others, which can affect their well-being for years. We want to understand why these difficulties happen and how social connections impact their quality of life and mental health over time. We will compare survivors of malignant brain tumors with those who had non-malignant tumors to see if there are differences in their social experiences. Our goal is to identify factors like age at diagnosis, treatments, and other health issues that might contribute to these social challenges. This knowledge will help us create better support programs for survivors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to help childhood brain tumor survivors build stronger social connections and improve their overall health and happiness.
How similar studies have gone: While the lasting effects of pediatric brain tumors on social well-being are recognized, this project aims to uncover specific factors and mechanisms that are not yet fully understood.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hocking, Matthew C. — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Hocking, Matthew C.
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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.