Cancer genome sequencing for American Indian and Alaska Native communities in the Southwest
Engagement of American Indians of Southwestern Tribal Nations in Cancer Genome Sequencing - Administrative Core
This project partners with American Indian and Alaska Native communities to do detailed genetic testing of cancers to find differences that could lead to better screening and treatments for those communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11191555 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited to join through partnerships with your tribal community and local clinics and asked for consent to share health information and provide a tumor sample and a blood or saliva sample. Researchers will sequence DNA from both the tumor and normal tissue to find inherited and tumor-specific mutations and genome-wide mutation patterns. The team will compare these results to existing cancer datasets to find differences that may explain worse outcomes and suggest tailored prevention or therapy options. Findings and next steps will be shared with participating communities in a respectful, culturally aware way.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are American Indian or Alaska Native adults with a cancer diagnosis or cancer survivors who can provide tumor tissue and a blood or saliva sample and agree to share medical and exposure information.
Not a fit: People who are not American Indian or Alaska Native or who do not have cancer (and those unwilling to provide samples or medical information) are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify genetic markers and mutation patterns that help improve cancer screening, prevention, and targeted treatment options for American Indian and Alaska Native patients.
How similar studies have performed: Large cancer sequencing efforts like The Cancer Genome Atlas have found actionable mutations in other populations but AI/AN people were vastly underrepresented, so this approach is evidence-based but novel for these communities.
Where this research is happening
Albuquerque, United States
- University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr — Albuquerque, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Willman, Cheryl Lynn — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Willman, Cheryl Lynn
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.