Building better lab models for high-risk childhood acute myeloid leukemia
Cross-species development and credentialing of pediatric AML models
Researchers are creating new mouse and human-based lab models that match the genetic types of high-risk pediatric AML to help speed the discovery of targeted treatments for children with AML.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11234276 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child has high-risk or rare pediatric AML, this project is making laboratory models (including mouse and human-derived models) that mirror the exact gene changes seen in patients. Investigators will use real-world patient genetic data and patient-derived cells to create models that represent many understudied molecular subtypes. By reflecting the true diversity of pediatric AML, these models aim to make preclinical testing of new drugs more predictive. The work is focused on understudied high-risk groups where current models are inadequate.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children and adolescents diagnosed with high‑risk or rare molecular subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia, or families willing to donate diagnostic or residual samples for research, would be ideal contributors to this work.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment changes should not expect direct clinical benefits from this model-development project, and adults with non‑pediatric AML subtypes are less likely to be relevant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these improved models could help researchers find and test targeted therapies that may eventually lead to better, more personalized treatments for children with high‑risk AML.
How similar studies have performed: Related efforts using patient-derived xenografts and genetically engineered models have improved preclinical testing, but creating a broad set of models for many rare pediatric AML subtypes is relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Magee, Jeffrey Alan — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Magee, Jeffrey Alan
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.