# Efficacy of Brief Behavioral Therapy for Cancer-Related Insomnia in Reducing Headache Burden: Exploring Patient Phenotypes and Predictors of Response

> **NIH NIH R01** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $202,096

## Abstract

Project Summary - Research: Although many cancer survivors complain of disabling headache, there is
scarcity of headache research in cancer survivors without intracranial tumors. Do cancer survivors get a new-
onset headache de novo, a migraine variant or its progression, or secondary headache from treatment-
associated side effects? Does controlling cancer-related insomnia reduce headache burden? This supplement
will examine the efficacy of sleep behavioral interventions for headache relief, which may reduce insomnia
symptoms and improve quality of life. Our preliminary results show that Brief Behavioral Therapy for Cancer
Related Insomnia (BBT-CI) might be efficacious in reducing headache burden in breast cancer survivors. Using
data collected in the parent grant, Aim 1 examines if patients on BBT-CI arm will have significant reduction in
monthly headache days (primary outcome), sleep, depression, and cortisol levels (secondary outcomes) than
those in Healthy EAting Education Learning for healthy sleep (HEAL). For Aim 2, participants will be classified
into clinically meaningful cohorts and headache phenotypes using data reduction. For Aim 3, we will test if
parasympathetic function, cortisol, actigraphy moderate BBT-CI efficacy to examine response predictors. By
virtue of using a single behavioral therapy targeting two conditions (insomnia and headache) and by utilizing
data-driven patient phenotyping, this proposal is innovative and consistent with emerging precision medicine.
Training: This Diversity Supplement will provide Dr. Yohannes Woldeamanuel with mentored training to
help him become an independent investigator addressing symptoms associated with diagnosis and
treatment of cancer (e.g., headache) in medically ill populations such as cancer survivors i.e. an NCI-
relevant research area. His training will focus on the following core competencies: (a) behavioral clinical trials
in cancer research, (b) statistical competency in analyses of longitudinal and clinical trial data, (c) career
development activities (e.g. R01 grant writing, first-authored publications, creating goal-directed programmatic
translational research). To achieve these goals, Dr. Woldeamanuel has assembled a team of mentors in
behavioral clinical trials (Dr. Palesh, primary mentor), statistical analysis (Dr. Jo, co-mentor), and advisors in
sleep medicine, headache medicine, health disparities, geriatric psychology and medical oncology (Drs. Kushida,
Cowan, Gore-Felton, Cassidy-Eagle, Fung, respectively). This supplement will provide the training and protected
time for Dr. Woldeamanuel to write an independent grant (e.g., R21/R01) for development and efficacy testing
of personalized behavioral interventions for headache in cancer survivors, establish a research niche and secure
a faculty position at an Assistant Professor rank. The supplement will help him to begin establishing a
translational research program in precision medicine alleviating headache burden among can...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10302033
- **Project number:** 3R01CA239714-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Oxana G Palesh
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $202,096
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-03-01 → 2021-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10302033

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10302033, Efficacy of Brief Behavioral Therapy for Cancer-Related Insomnia in Reducing Headache Burden: Exploring Patient Phenotypes and Predictors of Response (3R01CA239714-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10302033. Licensed CC0.

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