Using yoga to help relieve pain from chemotherapy-induced nerve damage
Official title: Yoga for Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment (YCT) Trial
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11047709 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether an eight-week yoga program can help ease the pain and improve the quality of life for cancer survivors dealing with nerve pain from chemotherapy, and it’s open to people who want to try a natural way to feel better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $705,440 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA251470-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11047709 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer survivors experiencing moderate to severe pain from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing CIPN or those who have severe mobility limitations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of yoga as a treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a painful condition affecting many cancer survivors. The study will involve a phase III trial with 268 participants, comparing the effects of an eight-week yoga program against usual care and an education control group. Participants will be assessed for improvements in pain, flexibility, quality of life, and the risk of falls. The goal is to provide a non-pharmacological approach to alleviate the debilitating symptoms associated with CIPN.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide cancer survivors with a safe and effective way to reduce pain and improve their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilot studies have shown promising results for yoga in reducing CIPN pain, suggesting that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bao, Ting — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Bao, Ting
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Non-invasive, microscopic biomarkers to detect CIPN in chemotherapy patients
This grant aims to develop a non-invasive imaging method to measure nerve changes in patients undergoing chemotherapy to better understand and monitor chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
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Longitudinal study of how body-sense relates to chemotherapy nerve damage
This study follows people with breast or gastrointestinal cancer and healthy controls to see if brain processing of body sensations contributes to chemotherapy-induced nerve damage.
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A new screen for chemotherapy-related nerve problems in young children
A clinician-scientist at Yale is developing a child-friendly survey to quickly screen for nerve-related side effects from cancer treatment in kids from birth to age 5.
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How the immune system’s CD4+ T cells in women might prevent chemotherapy-related nerve pain
A study in mice explores whether female immune cells in nerve tissue can lessen pain from chemotherapy, with potential implications for preventing CIPN in women.
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Axonal transport and chemotherapy-related nerve pain
This grant studies why certain cancer patients develop painful nerve damage from chemotherapy and explores ways to prevent or treat it.
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Remote monitoring and nurse follow-up to manage chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
A program uses symptom reporting tools with nurse follow-up to reduce and better manage chemotherapy-induced neuropathy for cancer survivors, during and after treatment.
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.