Virtual personalized music relaxation for anxiety in young cancer survivors

Determining the Feasibility of Virtual Tailored, Music-Based Relaxation for Anxiety Among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors.

NIH-funded research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11194329

This eight-week online program offers individualized music-based relaxation sessions led by a music therapist to help adolescent and young adult cancer survivors manage anxiety.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Ann Arbor, United States)
Project IDNIH-11194329 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would join an eight-week, virtual program with about 45 minutes of tailored music-relaxation work each week delivered by a board-certified music therapist. The therapist creates personalized music experiences to build self-awareness and teach music-based coping skills you can use when anxiety or fear of recurrence arises. This R34 grant is testing whether the TiMBRe approach can be delivered remotely and is practical for adolescent and young adult (15–39) cancer survivors with clinically relevant anxiety. If the remote delivery is feasible, the team plans a larger randomized trial to measure whether the approach reduces anxiety and improves quality of life.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (roughly ages 15–39) who are experiencing clinically relevant anxiety and can participate in online sessions are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without significant anxiety, those who require intensive psychiatric treatment, or those unable to use virtual audio sessions (for example, due to severe hearing loss or no internet access) may not benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a convenient, non-drug way for survivors to reduce anxiety and improve coping after cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Music-based interventions have reduced anxiety in adults with cancer, but few trials have included adolescents and young adults, so this tailored virtual approach is promising but relatively novel for this age group.

Where this research is happening

Ann Arbor, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Conditions Adolescent and young adult cancer patientsAdolescent and young adult cancer populationAdolescent and young adults with cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.