MIAMI , July 21: Marlon L. Wong, P.T., Ph.D., associate professor of clinical physical therapy at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has been awarded a grant from Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. The three-year, $225,000 award will support research focused on improving quality of life for patients living with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and other long-term effects of cancer treatment.
Wong’s work, which will take place at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the Miller School, addresses a condition that affects many patients during and after chemotherapy: chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. This condition occurs in up to half of patients treated with certain chemotherapy drugs and can cause ongoing pain, tingling, numbness and weakness.
“Even after cancer treatment ends, many patients continue to deal with symptoms that affect how they move, function and live day to day,” Wong said. “Our goal is to better understand these effects and find ways to help patients manage them more effectively.”
He and his team are studying a noninvasive therapy known as transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS). This approach uses gentle electrical stimulation applied to the ear to influence nerve signaling, inflammation and regulation of the nervous system, processes that are thought to be involved in CIPN symptoms.
The study’s participants will complete a two-week trial of daily, self-administered treatment using a portable device, allowing them to use the therapy at home rather than relying on repeated clinic visits. This approach gives patients a more active role in managing their symptoms while reducing the burden of care.
In addition to measuring changes in pain and nerve-related symptoms, the study will examine what is happening inside the body during treatment. Researchers will analyze markers of inflammation, nerve activity and heart rate variability to better understand how CIPN develops and how different patients respond to therapy.
“This study is also about understanding which patients may benefit most and why,” Wong said. “By looking at the biological and neurological factors involved, we hope to build a clearer picture that can guide future care.”
Read more about Sylvester’s efforts to advance cancer research through big data on the InventUM blog and follow @SylvesterCancer on X for the latest news on its research and care.