Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Insomnia in Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

{ "Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Insomnia in Childhood ALL Survivors", "This study is looking at whether a device called Soterix tVNS can help adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who have trouble sleeping (insomnia). You would use a non-invasive earbud device nightly for 20 minutes. Some participants will receive active stimulation, while others will receive a sham (inactive) stimulation. The study will last for 8 weeks and will check how well the device works to improve your sleep, reduce stress, and help with thinking skills. Researchers also want to see how easy it is for people to use the device regularly. To join, you need to be a survivor of childhood ALL, between 20 and 50 years old, and have moderate to severe insomnia.", "design": "This is an interventional study with about 40 participants. You would be randomly assigned to receive either active or inactive (sham) stimulation.", "commitments": "You would use the Soterix tVNS device nightly for 20 minutes. Your sleep quality, stress, and thinking skills will be measured at the start, after 2 weeks, and after 8 weeks.", "compensation": "Not stated in the trial record.", "follow_up": "Your sleep quality and insomnia scores will be measured at 2 weeks and 8 weeks. Side effects will be tracked weekly for 7 weeks.", }

Study design
Not specified.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Not specified.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07191119

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Insomnia in Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Recruiting
NAAges 20–50InterventionalDevice feasibility
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
~40 participants
Updated 2026-08-14 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Soterix tVNS deviceSoterix tVNS device (sham programmed)Sleep QualityNeurocognitive and mental health outcomes

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Mean Change in Subjective Sleep Quality
Measured over Baseline, 2-weeks, 8-weeks
+15 more outcomes measured
Survivor of Childhood Cancer
Insomnia
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

NCT07191119

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    Memphis, Tennesseestudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

  • Justin E Tanner, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Survivor of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
Enrolled on SJLIFE
Participant was less than 21 years of age at time of diagnosis.
Age 20-50 years at the time of enrollment
Insomnia Severity Index \>=8 (Proxy \>=8) confirmed prior to enrollment
Access to home Wi-Fi and Smartphone
Participant is able to speak and understand the English language
Participant is able and willing to give consent

Exclusion

Unable to understand the details and requirements of the study (at the discretion of the PI)
Female participants who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
Presence of implanted electrical medical devices (i.e. pacemaker)
Currently taking medication intended to treat neurocognitive impairment (i.e. stimulants) or medications prescribed for seizure management
History of skin irritation or other issues during stimulation of inner ear
Currently utilizing a technological intervention for a sleep disorder (e.g. CPAP)
Medications and behavioral practices (white noise, night-time yoga, etc) are acceptable as long as the insomnia is persistent.
History of a contraindicated health condition including:
Syncope (CTCAE \>2)
Cardiac dysrhythmia (CTCAE \>2)
Vascular Disease (CTCAE \>2)
Coronary Artery Disease (CTCAE \>2)
Active contraindicated heath condition including:
Cranial Nerve Disorder (CTCAE \>2)
Cardiac tachycardia (CTCAE \>2)
Neuropathy (Cranial Nerves) (CTCAE \>2)
Neuralgia (Cranial Nerves) (CTCAE \>2)
Overt Cerebrovascular Accident (CTCAE \>2)
Seizures (Any in most recent 1 year
Currently enrolled or participating in any other neurostimulation or neuromodulation ancillary research studies
  • Mean Change in Subjective Sleep QualityBaseline, 2-weeks, 8-weeks

    Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI, 0-57 points). Descriptive statistics of the difference between experiment arms of the change between baseline and 2 weeks, and baseline and 8 weeks will be reported.

  • Mean change in clinical insomnia scoreBaseline, 2-weeks, 8-weeks

    Insomnia Severity Index (ISI, 0-28 points). Descriptive statistics of the difference between experiment arms of the change between baseline and 2 weeks, and baseline and 8 weeks will be reported.

  • Occurrence of side effectsWeek 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7

    Patient Report of Incidence of Side Effects (PRISE). Descriptive statistics of the change between baseline and 2 and 8 weeks will be reported.

  • Adherence to intervention2-weeks, 8-weeks

    Number of tVNS sessions performed. Descriptive statistics of adherence at 2 weeks and 8 weeks will be reported.

  • Mean change in Processing Speed (age adjusted z-score)Baseline, 2-Weeks, 8-weeks

    Symbol Digit Coding Test as the difference between correct responses and errors. Descriptive statistics of the difference between experiment arms of the change between baseline and 2 weeks, and baseline and 8 weeks will be reported.

  • Mean change in Executive Function (age adjusted z-score)Baseline, 2-Weeks, 8-weeks

    Shifting Attention Task as the difference between correct responses and errors. Descriptive statistics of the difference between experiment arms of the change between baseline and 2 weeks, and baseline and 8 weeks will be reported.

  • Mean change in Simple Attention (age adjusted z-score)Baseline, 2-Weeks, 8-weeks

    Continuous Performance Test as the difference between correct responses and commission errors. Descriptive statistics of the difference between experiment arms of the change between baseline and 2 weeks, and baseline and 8 weeks will be reported.

  • Mean change in Reaction Time (age adjusted z-score)Baseline, 2-Weeks, 8-weeks

    Stroop Test as the average of reaction times in the complex and default trials. Descriptive statistics of the difference between experiment arms of the change between baseline and 2 weeks, and baseline and 8 weeks will be reported.

  • Mean change in Sustained Attention (age adjusted z-score)Baseline, 2-Weeks, 8-weeks

    Four-Part Continuous Performance Test as the difference between correct responses and incorrect responses in Part 2, 3, and 4. Descriptive statistics of the difference between experiment arms of the change between baseline and 2 weeks, and baseline and 8 weeks will be reported.

  • Mean change in Working Memory (age adjusted z-score)Baseline, 2-Weeks, 8-weeks

    Four-Part Continuous Performance Test as the difference between correct responses and incorrect responses in Part 4 only. Descriptive statistics of the difference between experiment arms of the change between baseline and 2 weeks, and baseline and 8 weeks will be reported.

  • Mean change in Complex Attention (age adjusted z-score)Baseline, 2-Weeks, 8-weeks

    Evaluated with the Stroop Test (ST), Shifting Attention Test (SAT), and Continuous Performance Test (CPT) as the sum of ST commission errors, SAT errors, CPT commission errors, and CPT omission errors. Descriptive statistics of the difference between experiment arms of the change between baseline and 2 weeks, and baseline and 8 weeks will be reported.

  • Mean change in Cognitive Flexibility (age adjusted z-score)Baseline, 2-Weeks, 8-weeks

    Evaluated with the Stroop Test (ST) and Shifting Attention Test (SAT) as the difference between SAT correct responses and the sum of the SAT errors and ST commission errors. Descriptive statistics of the difference between experiment arms of the change between baseline and 2 weeks, and baseline and 8 weeks will be reported.

  • Mean change in Depression, Anxiety, and Stress (scales)Baseline, 2-Weeks, 8-weeks

    Evaluated with Depression Anxiety Stress Scale Short Form (DASS SF-21). Descriptive statistics of the difference between experiment arms of the change between baseline and 2 weeks, and baseline and 8 weeks will be reported. DASS SF-21 are reported as population z-scores and categorized into five severity ranges: normal, mild, moderately severe, and extremely severe. The severity levels, higher percentiles being more severe, are determined by z-scores from the DASS manual.

  • Mean Change in Heart Rate Variability (ms)Weekly means of daily measurements at baseline, at 2-weeks, and at 8-weeks

    Root Mean Square Successive Difference (RMSSD) of heart rate variability. Descriptive statistics of the difference between experiment arms of the change between baseline and 2 weeks, and baseline and 8 weeks will be reported.

  • Mean Change in Sleep Onset Latency (minutes)Weekly means of daily measurements at baseline, at 2-weeks, and at 8-weeks

    Sleep Onset Latency (time in bed before sleep). Descriptive statistics of the difference between experiment arms of the change between baseline and 2 weeks, and baseline and 8 weeks will be reported.

  • Mean Change in Waking Events (count)Weekly means of daily measurements at baseline, at 2-weeks, and at 8-weeks

    Number of Awakenings. Descriptive statistics of the difference between experiment arms of the change between baseline and 2 weeks, and baseline and 8 weeks will be reported.