Creating a mouse model to explore treatments for preventing leukemia from invading the brain in children
Official title: Development of a Mouse Model to Study Targeted Therapy to Prevent CNS Invasion by Pediatric T-ALL
Funded at University of Texas El Paso · NIH-10754964 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a special mouse model to help us learn how pediatric T-cell leukemia spreads to the brain, and it will explore ways to stop this spread and clear any leukemia cells that have already gotten in, with the hope of finding better treatments for kids with this type of cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas El Paso NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (El Paso, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $76,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R03CA270815-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10754964 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, particularly those at risk for CNS involvement.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of leukemia or those whose cancer has already progressed beyond the CNS may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a mouse model that mimics pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) to better understand how this cancer can invade the central nervous system (CNS). The study aims to investigate whether blocking the entry of T-ALL cells into the CNS can prevent further invasion and if the cells that have already invaded can be cleared. By using advanced imaging techniques, researchers will be able to observe the behavior of leukemia cells in real-time within living animals. This approach may lead to safer and more effective treatment options for children with T-ALL.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that prevent CNS invasion by leukemia, reducing the need for toxic treatments and improving long-term outcomes for pediatric patients.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been research on leukemia treatments, this specific approach using a mouse model to prevent CNS invasion is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas El Paso
El Paso, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vines, Charlotte M — University of Texas El Paso
- Study coordinator: Vines, Charlotte M
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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.