The Supportive Care and Symptom Management program supports studies on the prevention or treatment of acute and chronic symptoms and morbidities related to cancer and its treatment. This includes the impact on the quality of life of patients and their informal caregivers. The program also supports studies of patients and their caregivers at the end of life.
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About Supportive Care and Symptom Management
The program supports research in three areas: prevention or treatment of acute or chronic symptoms and morbidities related to cancer, its treatment and caregiving (symptom management research); effects on quality of life from cancer, its treatment and caregiving (quality of life research); and end-of-life psychosocial issues, caregiving and treatment strategies (end-of-life research).
Through the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), clinical trials are underway to evaluate therapies to prevent or ameliorate a broad range of symptoms and/or toxicities associated with cancer its treatment and caregiving. Other studies funded separately are investigating a range of treatment effects on health-related quality of life and a variety of influences on the end-of-life cancer experience.
Topic Areas include: Anorexia, Cachexia, Cardiotoxicity, Caregiver Issues, Cognitive Dysfunction, Distress/Anxiety/Depression, End of Life, Fatigue, Geriatrics, Hot Flashes, Lymphedema, Medication Adherence, Mucositis, Multiple Symptoms, Musculoskeletal Symptoms, Nausea, Neuropathy, Nutrition, Oral Complications, Other Supportive Care Issues, Pain, Palliative Care, Pediatrics/Adolescents/Young Adult, Physical Functioning, Quality of Life, Skin Toxicities, Sleep Disorders, and Urinary Complications.
Selected Topics
- HEAL Initiative
- Patient Resources on Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
- Patient Resources on Coping with Cancer
Resources
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Building Bridges in Cancer Symptom Science Webinar SeriesThis series is aimed at bringing together interdisciplinary researchers in cancer symptom science to share their expertise and further discussions in the field.
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DCP Early Career Scientist Spotlight Research Seminar SeriesThis seminar series highlights nominated early career scientists who are advancing research within the areas supported by DCP.
Funding Opportunities
| Title | Announcement Number | Activity Code | Clinical Trials Status | Expiration Date | Program Official |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEAL Initiative: Studies to Enable Analgesic Discovery | RFA-NS-25-023 (R61/R33 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | R61, R33 | Clinical Trial Not Allowed | 02/20/2027 | Rachel Altshuler, Ph.D. |
Grantee Details
Clinical Trials
| Title | Intervention Sort descending | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myopenia and Mechanisms of Chemotherapy Toxicity in Older Adults With Colorectal Cancer | Wake Forest University Health Sciences | Recruiting | |
| Assessment of Cognitive Function in Breast Cancer and Lymphoma Patients Receiving Chemotherapy | University of Rochester NCORP Research Base | Enrolling by invitation | |
| Distance-Based Exercise to Preserve Function and Prevent Disability | Accelerometry, Aerobic Exercise Intervention, Dumbbell Exercise Intervention, Electronic Health Record Review, Exercise intervention, Interview, Questionnaire Administration, Telemedicine | Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology | Not yet recruiting |
| Telephone Support in Advanced Gastrointestinal Cancer | Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Education/Support | Indiana University | Recruiting |
| Controlled Trial Of Acupuncture To Prevent Radiation-Induced Xerostomia | Acupuncture - Group 1, Acupuncture - Group 2, Questionnaire, Standard Care | M.D. Anderson Cancer Center | Active, not recruiting |
| Meaning-Centered Counseling for Chinese Patients Who Are Being Treated for Advanced Cancer | Adaptation of IMCP for Chinese Immigrant Cancer Patients, In-depth Patient Interviews, Individual Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Chinese (IMCP-Ch) (For Phase 3 and Phase 4) | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | Active, not recruiting |
| Gut Microbe Composition, Exercise, and Breast Breast Cancer Survivors | Aerobic Exercise Training, Attention Control | University of Alabama at Birmingham | Active, not recruiting |
| Lactobacillus Plantarum in Preventing Acute Graft Versus Host Disease in Children Undergoing Donor Stem Cell Transplant | Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Lactobacillus plantarum strain 299, Lactobacillus plantarum strain 299v, Placebo Administration | Children's Oncology Group | Active, not recruiting |
| A Study to Evaluate Genetic Predictors of Aromatase Inhibitor Musculoskeletal Symptoms (AIMSS) | anastrozole | ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group | Active, not recruiting |
| Flibanserin in Men Receiving Androgen Suppression for Prostate Cancer | Androgen deprivation therapy, Flibanserin 100 MG, Placebo | Andrew McDonald | Active, not recruiting |
News and Events
Meet the 2026 Cohort of the Early Career Scientists
Date Posted: January 23, 2026
Early Career Scientist Seminar - Drs. Choi and Liou
Date Posted: January 2, 2026
Early Career Scientist Seminar - Drs. Conley and Mazzilli
Date Posted: January 2, 2026
Early Career Scientist Seminar - Drs. Cordas dos Santos and Eksi
Date Posted: January 2, 2026
Early Career Scientist Seminar - Drs. Demb and Desai
Date Posted: January 2, 2026