Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute awarded MGH Institute of Health Professions, Inc. a Project Grant totaling $696,498 (Award Date: May 1, 2026; Completion Date: April 30, 2031) under the Cancer Cause and Prevention Research program (CFDA 93.393) to develop and optimize a multicomponent intervention designed to improve functional recovery and participation in life activities among breast cancer survivors. The research will utilize the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) framework to systematically evaluate three remotely-delivered intervention components—priority elicitation, education, and guided application (including goal setting, problem-solving, and action planning)—through a factorial trial design randomizing 352 breast cancer survivors across eight treatment conditions. The deliverables include research findings on the main effects and interactions of these intervention components in reducing participation restrictions, evaluation of mechanisms of action through hypothesis testing on proximal targets, and development of an evidence-based intervention package ready for efficacy testing.

This research directly addresses a significant clinical need, as approximately one-third of breast cancer survivors experience limitations in vocational, social, physical, and instrumental activities of daily living. By identifying which intervention components—alone or in combination—most effectively enhance engagement in meaningful, role-relevant activities, this project will contribute scalable, accessible, evidence-based solutions to improve cancer survivor outcomes and quality of life. Research will be performed at the awardee's location in Charlestown, Massachusetts.