Adapting flow cytometry to detect blood cancers in Kenyan children and young people
Official title: Adapting flow cytometry methods for early detection of acute hematologic malignancies in Kenya including the improvement of sample flow processes and technical training of personnel
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11416488 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nationwide Kenyan effort will test a cheaper, single-blood-sample screening method using flow cytometry to screen for leukemia in kids and young adults who may have the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | July 2, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $215,713 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA278862-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416488 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and young adults in Kenya with suspected leukemia or lymphoma who would benefit from streamlined blood-based screening.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without suspected leukemia or those not reachable by the new screening workflow may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to make leukemia screening more accessible in Kenya by moving from a four-tube bone-marrow workflow to a single-tube blood test that can be sent to a local lab. Researchers will compare bone marrow and blood samples to validate the new approach and identify which patients truly need further testing. The study also includes training local personnel in flow cytometry techniques and streamlining sample handling to reduce costs and delays. If successful, the method could shorten time to diagnosis and improve care for children and young people with suspected leukemias in East Africa.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive faster, cheaper diagnosis and earlier treatment decisions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in Africa has shown flow cytometry improves leukemia diagnosis, but this study tests a more affordable, blood-based single-tube approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vik, Terry a — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Vik, Terry a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Adapting flow cytometry to detect childhood leukemias in Kenya using a single-test screen
A low-cost, blood-based flow cytometry screen in Kenya aims to detect and triage suspected leukemias in children and young adults.
-
Understanding why patients with blood cancers start and stick with oral cancer medicines
A study to learn what helps or hinders Black patients with blood cancers in starting and continuing their prescribed oral cancer medicines.
-
Why some blood cancer cells survive after treatment by resisting natural killer cells
This work is trying to understand why leftover blood cancer cells in leukemia and multiple myeloma survive treatment by escaping natural killer immune cells.
-
Expanding blood cancer care and research to Brooklyn and Queens
Aimed at bringing more blood cancer care and clinical trials to Brooklyn and Queens to help a diverse patient community.
-
Next-gen genetic engineering of CD45 to boost CAR-T therapy for blood cancers
A research team is developing a way to make CAR-T cells work for many blood cancers by re-engineering a common blood cell protein called CD45.
-
Single-tube blood test to detect acute blood cancers in Kenyan children and young adults
A simple, low-cost blood test aims to find leukemia early in Kenyan children and young adults so fewer people need painful bone marrow procedures and long travel.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.