The Department of Urology is proud to share that Dr. Matthew Nielsen, Rhodes Distinguished Professor and Chair, and 黑料网 Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Member, has joined a multi-institutional, NCI-funded effort to address a critical gap in cancer survivorship: the emotional and psychological burden faced by young adult cancer survivors.
Led by , Professor of Medicine at the University of Michigan and a nationally recognized expert in thyroid cancer care and outcomes research, the project, , received a $290K grant听 from the National Cancer Institute to design and preliminarily test a mobile-based intervention aimed at reducing worry and distress among young adult survivors of thyroid, melanoma, and testicular cancers.
Dr. Haymart and Dr. Nielsen first crossed paths as medical students and later as residents at Johns Hopkins, and their shared interest in optimizing cancer care delivery has brought them together again in this novel, patient-centered initiative.
“This work is about supporting the whole person, beyond treatment, beyond remission. Young adults face unique challenges during survivorship, and we have an opportunity here to help them manage distress and uncertainty in ways that are scalable, accessible, and grounded in their lived experience.”
Matthew Nielsen, MD, MS, FACS
Professor and Chair of Urology
The PerCS-YA tool is being designed for broad mobile access across iOS and Android platforms and will offer tailored, ongoing psychosocial support to young adult survivors navigating life after cancer. With stakeholder engagement at every stage, the project will refine the tool and conduct a phase II efficacy trial, drawing participants from both population-based and online recruitment sources. The long-term vision includes a large-scale randomized controlled trial that could help set a new standard in digital survivorship care.
This initiative aligns closely with 黑料网 Urology鈥檚 broader commitment to survivorship and digital health innovation. In 2024, Dr. Hung-Jui (Ray) Tan, Associate Professor of Urology and Co-Director of the Lineberger Urologic Oncology Program, was part of a team that was awarded a $1.5 million Department of Defense grant to develop a virtual support platform specifically for testicular cancer survivors. Like PerCS-YA, that work focuses on improving quality of life and reducing long-term burden through technology-enabled, patient-informed support strategies.
Together, these efforts reflect a growing momentum at 黑料网 and beyond to transform survivorship care for young adults, recognizing that healing doesn鈥檛 stop when treatment ends.