A team of researchers led by Weill Cornell Medicine has received a $5 million federal grant to better understand the long-term challenges facing adolescents and young adults who survive cancer.
The five-year grant from the National Cancer Institute will support the creation of a large research project focused on cancer survivors between the ages of 15 and 39, a population researchers say has often been overlooked despite significant improvements in survival rates.
More than 80,000 adolescents and young adults are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States, and more than 2 million survivors are currently living nationwide. Researchers say many face lasting effects from treatment while also navigating major life milestones such as higher education, careers and family planning.
The study will build a cohort of 2,000 young cancer survivors in New York City to examine both the short- and long-term impacts of modern cancer treatments, including immunotherapies and biological drugs. Researchers plan to focus on issues such as fertility, sexual health, financial stress and access to supportive care.
As part of the project, participants will use a mobile app designed specifically for young cancer survivors. The platform will allow researchers to collect survey responses, health information and sensor-based data such as activity levels and sleep patterns. Participants may also contribute biological samples and permit access to electronic medical records.
Researchers hope the data will help identify patients at risk of long-term complications, improve support services and lead to earlier interventions for survivors facing health challenges after treatment.
The project is being led by Dr. Shoshana Rosenberg of Weill Cornell Medicine, with collaborators from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.
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