# Telerehabilitation for Veteran Lung Cancer Survivors Following Curative Intent Therapy

> **NIH VA IK2** · VA EASTERN COLORADO HEALTH CARE SYSTEM · 2022 · —

## Abstract

This project entitled “Telerehabilitation for Veteran Lung Cancer Survivors Following Curative Intent Therapy”,
is a Career Development Award (CDA) – 2 resubmission to the Veterans Affairs (VA) Rehabilitation Research
and Development (RR&D) Service (RFA RX-20-006). The candidate, Dr. Duc M. Ha, MD, MAS, is a Staff
Pulmonologist at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center (RMR VAMC) and Assistant Professor at
the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU AMC). Dr. Ha has completed a master’s degree in
clinical research, postdoctoral research in pulmonary exercise physiology and patient-reported outcomes, and
published first-authorship, original research articles on the health impairments of Veteran lung cancer survivors
following curative intent therapy. Dr. Ha’s career development goals are to acquire in-depth training in 1)
qualitative research, 2) behavioral health science, and 3) the design and conduct of clinical trials focused on
rehabilitation and exercise. His longer-term goals are to evaluate rehabilitation services to improve the lives of
Veteran lung cancer survivors as a VA physician investigator.
Dr. Ha’s primary mentor, Dr. Robert L. Keith, MD, is Professor of Medicine and Cancer Biology at CU AMC
and Associate Chief of Staff for Research at RMR VAMC. Dr. Keith is a national leader in lung cancer with a
proven track record of research funding and mentoring. Dr. Ha’s co-mentors (and their relevant expertise) are
Drs. David B. Bekelman, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine (qualitative research, supportive care),
Jamie L. Studts, PhD, Professor of Medical Oncology (behavioral health science, lung cancer survivorship),
and Jennifer E. Stevens-Lapsley, PT, PhD, Professor of Physical Therapy (rehabilitation science). The
environment is collaborative with a long history of faculty development. This includes the RMR Geriatric
Research, Education and Clinical Center; Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care;
Lung Precision Oncology Program; and the University of Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute.
Lung cancer is the second-most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. Veterans – over 8,200 incident
cases are diagnosed each year. Approximately 50% of lung cancers are diagnosed at stage I-III and therefore
eligible for curative intent therapy. Survival rates among Veterans with early stage lung cancer have increased
along with advances in surgical and radiation techniques. Following curative intent therapy, many Veterans
experience physical function loss and increased symptom burden. Consequently, approaches are needed to
improve their function and quality of life (QoL). We hypothesize that telerehabilitation could mitigate these
adverse effects. Therefore, we seek to: (Aim 1) Conduct a qualitative study to assess (a) Veteran lung cancer
survivors’ health goals following curative intent therapy, (b) knowledge of outcome expectations for exercise
and rehabilitation, and (c) perceived self...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10420876
- **Project number:** 1IK2RX003661-01A2
- **Recipient organization:** VA EASTERN COLORADO HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** Duc M. Ha
- **Activity code:** IK2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2027-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10420876

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10420876, Telerehabilitation for Veteran Lung Cancer Survivors Following Curative Intent Therapy (1IK2RX003661-01A2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10420876. Licensed CC0.

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