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Multidisciplinary Care for Graft-versus-Host Disease

N/A
Waitlist Available
Led By Areej El-Jawahri, MD
Research Sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Patients with moderate to severe chronic GVHD
Adult patients (≥ 21 years) who underwent allogeneic HCT
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up baseline (pre-randomization) up to 16 week follow up
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing whether a new, multidisciplinary approach to care can improve quality of life, symptoms, and psychological distress for people who have developed GVHD after a stem cell transplant.

Who is the study for?
Adults over 21 who had a stem cell transplant, developed moderate to severe chronic GVHD, and are treated at the MGH Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinic. Participants must understand English for group activities. Those with conditions or cognitive impairments that affect consent or participation, as well as prisoners and pregnant women, cannot join.
What is being tested?
The study compares two approaches: the Horizons Program—a multidisciplinary intervention aimed at improving life quality, reducing symptoms and psychological distress—and usual care given to patients with chronic GVHD after stem cell transplants.
What are the potential side effects?
Since this trial focuses on supportive interventions rather than medications, it does not directly involve drug side effects. However, participants may experience varying levels of emotional discomfort during therapy sessions.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
Select...
I have moderate to severe chronic graft-versus-host disease.
Select...
I am 21 or older and have had a stem cell transplant from a donor.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~baseline (pre-randomization) up to 16 week follow up
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and baseline (pre-randomization) up to 16 week follow up for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Rate of Enrollment
Rate of adherence
Rate of retention
Secondary study objectives
Coping Skills: Measure of Current Status (MOCS)
Medical Adherence: Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5)
Psychological Distress: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
+4 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Usual CareExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Standard medical visits to address chronic GVHD, with an additional standardized booklet, in electronic or paper format, containing information on the management of chronic GVHD and stem cell transplant survivorship recommendations. Questionnaire assessment at 8 weeks and 16 weeks after Horizons Program group starts
Group II: Horizon ProgramExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Eight weekly, audio recorded telehealth videoconferencing sessions. Sessions are 90 minutes. Questionnaire assessments at 8 and 16 weeks after end of videoconferencing sessions
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Usual Care
1990
Completed Phase 4
~7700

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Massachusetts General HospitalLead Sponsor
3,012 Previous Clinical Trials
13,309,191 Total Patients Enrolled
Areej El-Jawahri, MDPrincipal InvestigatorMassachusetts General Hospital
20 Previous Clinical Trials
5,359 Total Patients Enrolled
~15 spots leftby Nov 2025