A tool to match children with relapsed cancer to clinical trials

GEARBOx - a multisite clinical trial matching tool for children with relapsed or refractory cancer

NIH-funded research University of Chicago · NIH-10923956

This study is creating a helpful tool called GEARBOx that makes it easier for kids with tough-to-treat cancers, like certain types of leukemia, to find and join clinical trials that could help them, by using important genetic information to match them with the right options.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Chicago NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, United States)
Project IDNIH-10923956 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research develops GEARBOx, a clinical trial matching tool designed specifically for children with relapsed or refractory cancers, such as acute myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The tool aims to simplify the process of matching patients to clinical trials by utilizing genomic and immunophenotype biomarker data, which can be complex and difficult to interpret. By automating the extraction of eligibility criteria and enhancing the information available to clinicians, GEARBOx seeks to improve the efficiency of enrolling children in appropriate clinical trials. The project also plans to expand the tool's capabilities to include additional cancer types and streamline data integration from third-party labs.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who have relapsed or refractory cancers, particularly acute myelogenous leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Not a fit: Patients with cancers that are not included in the study's focus or those who are not experiencing relapsed or refractory disease may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve access to clinical trials for children with difficult-to-treat cancers, potentially leading to better treatment outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in using automated tools for matching patients to clinical trials, indicating that this approach could be effective.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.