Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded $667,933 to the University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute, Inc. on July 6, 2026, under the Cancer Treatment Research program (CFDA 93.395) to develop and evaluate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as an intervention to improve psychological resilience and physical function in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) patients. The project, which extends through June 30, 2031, will deliver evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy training designed to help HCT patients maintain adequate physical activity and engagement in valued behaviors despite treatment-related discomforts such as fatigue, pain, and nausea. The research addresses a significant clinical challenge wherein patients undergoing this life-threatening cancer therapy often lack sufficient coping skills, leading to depression and functional decline.

The grant will support the development and testing of ACT-based interventions that foster psychological flexibility—enabling patients to maintain an open, receptive posture toward distressing but unavoidable treatment experiences while acting effectively guided by personal values. The project will also include caregiver skills training to enhance their capacity to support transplant success during acute pre- and post-transplant phases. As a research institute with substantial expertise in clinical trial coordination, biomedical research, and translational science, KUMCRI will leverage its established capabilities to design, implement, and evaluate this therapeutic intervention to optimize HCT patient outcomes.