CLL and Richter's syndrome tissue and blood bank
Biospecimens
Collecting blood, bone marrow, and tissue from people with CLL and Richter's syndrome so researchers can learn how RS develops and find early warning signs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179175 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This core collects and clinically annotates blood, bone marrow, and tumor tissue from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and those who develop Richter syndrome (RS). It systematically banks matched CLL and RS samples, including cell and plasma specimens, to trace clonal relationships and molecular changes over time. The core emphasizes samples from patients at higher risk and from time points before and at transformation, and will evaluate cell-free DNA in plasma as a potential early-detection method. These well-annotated biospecimens are made available to linked projects to support molecular and functional studies aimed at understanding RS.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a diagnosis of CLL—especially those judged at higher risk for Richter transformation or willing to provide blood, bone marrow, tissue samples, and clinical data—are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Individuals without CLL or those unwilling or unable to give samples or attend the collecting center are unlikely to derive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the biobank could enable earlier detection of Richter transformation and support development of more effective, targeted treatments for patients.
How similar studies have performed: Biobanks and matched-sample studies have previously helped find cancer biomarkers, but a prospectively collected resource focused on Richter transformation is less common and relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davids, Matthew S — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Davids, Matthew S
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.