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DISCOVR Study: Virtual Reality for Cancer Pain Management

This study, called DISCOVR, is exploring if a special type of virtual reality (VR) pain therapy can help people with cancer manage their chronic pain. Many people with cancer experience ongoing pain, and this study aims to see if VR can be a helpful tool, possibly reducing the need for opioid pain medications. You may be able to join if you are at least 18 years old, have an active cancer diagnosis (any solid tumor), have chronic cancer pain (lasting at least 3 months with a pain score of 4 or higher out of 10), and are currently prescribed opioid therapies. The main goal is to see if this virtual reality intervention is practical and acceptable to patients. The current status of the study is unclear, and it plans to enroll 25 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study, meaning participants will receive a specific treatment. It plans to enroll 25 participants.
What's involved
The study aims to measure intervention feasibility from enrollment to the end of treatment at 7 days.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary endpoint is measured at 7 days after the start of treatment.

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

NCT07228377

Digital Intervention for Symptom Management in Cancer and Opioid Sparing Using Virtual Reality (DISCOVR) Study

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalSupportive care
Medstar Health Research Institute
~25 participants
Updated 2025-12-24 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:virtual reality pain therapy

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Intervention feasibility
Measured over From enrollment to end of treatment at 7 days

Conditions

Cancer

Explore related trials

Solid Neoplasm

NCT07228377

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.

  • MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center

    Washington D.C., District of Columbiastudy 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.

Study leadership

  • Hunter Groninger, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Medstar Health Research Institute

Who to contact

Hunter Groninger, MD
[email protected]
202-877-7445
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

age ≥18 years old
living with active cancer diagnosis (any solid tumor type)
report chronic cancer pain (≥3 months) with baseline severity moderate-severe (i.e., self-report pain score (SRPS) ≥4/10, where 0=no pain, 10=worst pain)
prescribed chronic opioid therapies (may be long-acting formulations, short-acting formulations, or both)

Exclusion

history of intractable nausea/vomiting, motion sickness, seizures/epilepsy, and/or cranial structure abnormalities preventing VR headset use
moderate-severe pain of non-cancer etiology (e.g., chronic lumbago)
enrolled in another pain study
unable to complete surveys in English or Spanish.

What this trial measures

  • Intervention feasibilityFrom enrollment to end of treatment at 7 days

    \>70% of participants completing the prescribed use of VR headset daily (≥10 minutes) for one week