Understanding social connections in young brain cancer survivors
Official title: Social Connectedness in Pediatric Brain Cancer Survivors
Funded at Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-10750950 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how having friends and social support affects the health and happiness of kids who have survived brain cancer, and it aims to find out what makes it hard for them to connect with others, so we can help improve their social lives and well-being.
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 | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $685,413 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA256889-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10750950 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals under 21 years old who have survived pediatric brain cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been diagnosed with brain cancer or are over 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how social connectedness affects the health-related quality of life and psychological well-being of survivors of pediatric brain cancer. It aims to identify the factors that contribute to difficulties in forming social connections, such as age at diagnosis and treatment-related challenges. By comparing survivors of malignant and non-malignant brain tumors, the study seeks to uncover the underlying mechanisms that impact social behavior and overall health. The findings could inform the development of targeted interventions to improve social connectedness among these survivors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved interventions that enhance social connections and overall quality of life for pediatric brain cancer survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that addressing social connectedness can significantly improve psychological outcomes in cancer survivors, suggesting a promising avenue for this study.
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.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Social connections and quality of life for kids who survived brain cancer
This project follows pediatric brain cancer survivors as they grow into adults to understand how their social connections affect their happiness and mental well-being.
-
Understanding Social Connections for Childhood Brain Tumor Survivors
This project looks at how social connections affect the health and happiness of adults who survived brain tumors as children.
-
Telehealth exercise program to help rural breast cancer survivors fight fatigue
A telehealth exercise program is being tested to reduce cancer-related fatigue in rural breast cancer survivors.
-
Understanding how survivorship care plans affect health outcomes for cancer survivors
A study will look at whether survivorship care plans help reduce deaths and improve health for adults who have survived cancer.
-
Cancer Pain Management for Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors with Depressive Symptoms
A technology-based program helps Asian American breast cancer survivors with depressive symptoms manage chronic pain more effectively from home using a web app and mobile tools.
-
Nutrition and exercise plan to help overweight cancer survivors, using multi-omics to tailor care
A cancer survivorship program combines a tailored diet and exercise plan with multi-omics data to personalize care for adults with overweight or obesity.
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.