Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia genetics around the world
Official title: Genomics of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the Childhood Cancer and Leukemia International Consortium
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11407900 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project compares inherited genetic differences in children with and without acute lymphoblastic leukemia across many countries to learn who is at higher risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | August 22, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $100,003 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA266253-04S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11407900 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, survivors, and children from diverse ancestral backgrounds may be eligible to provide genetic samples or medical data through participating consortium sites.
✕Less likely to help
Because this is genetic and epidemiologic research rather than a treatment trial, participants should not expect direct therapeutic benefit or immediate changes to their care.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will collect genetic samples (for example, blood or saliva) and medical information from children with ALL and from comparison groups across many countries. They will scan the whole genome to find common inherited differences and create polygenic risk scores to see how genetic patterns relate to who develops ALL. The work combines existing data from the Childhood Cancer and Leukemia International Consortium with new samples from under-studied regions such as south/southeast/east Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding these genetic patterns may explain differences in ALL rates by ancestry and suggest markers to find high-risk children earlier.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify inherited genetic markers that help predict which children are more likely to develop ALL and guide earlier monitoring or prevention research.
How similar studies have gone: Previous genome-wide studies have already found over 15 genetic variants linked to childhood B‑cell ALL and shown that polygenic risk scores can separate higher- and lower-risk groups, though many global populations remain understudied.
Where this research is happening
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University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spector, Logan G. — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Spector, Logan G.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Genomics of childhood ALL across global populations
A wide-ranging study looks at how inherited genetics influence the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia around the world.
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Genomics of childhood ALL across diverse populations
A large international study will look at why children everywhere get acute lymphoblastic leukemia and how genetics may influence risk.
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Genomics of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia across global populations
This grant studies how inherited genes influence the risk of childhood ALL around the world to understand why some groups are more affected.
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Genetics of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
This project looks at how inherited genes affect the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children from many countries and ancestry groups.
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How inherited genes affect childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia worldwide
This project looks at inherited gene differences that relate to the risk of children developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia across many countries.
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Understanding the genetics of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
This study is looking at how certain genes might make kids aged 0-14 more likely to get acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and it hopes to find ways to better prevent and treat the disease by understanding how different backgrounds can affect this risk.
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.