Breast cancer genetics in Latin American women
Latin America Genomics of Breast Cancer Risk Study (LAGENO-BCR)
This project looks at genetic differences in women of Latin American heritage to make breast cancer risk predictions more accurate.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11400941 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project brings together genetic data from about 28,500 Latin American women with breast cancer and 32,600 women without cancer across 11 countries and the U.S. diaspora. Researchers will scan the whole genome to find genetic variants linked to breast cancer risk and use those findings to refine polygenic risk scores. They will account for differences in ancestry and geography so the risk tools work better for diverse Latin American communities. The goal is to build prediction models that are more accurate for women like me who have been under-represented in past genetics research.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are women of Latin American or Hispanic heritage, with or without a personal history of breast cancer, who can provide genetic samples or health information.
Not a fit: People without Latin American ancestry or those whose care does not depend on ancestry-informed risk models may not see direct benefit from these specific results.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more accurate, ancestry-specific risk predictions and better-targeted screening or prevention for women of Latin American descent.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier smaller studies in Hispanic/Latina women have found ancestry-specific variants that improved risk scores, but this larger, multi-country effort is novel and aims to confirm and expand those findings.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fejerman, Laura — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Fejerman, Laura
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 below.