DNMT3A's role in blood cancers
Official title: DNMT3A in Development of Hematologic Malignancies
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11237988 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how changes in the DNMT3A gene help cause leukemias like AML, with the goal of improving prevention and treatment for people with blood cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2014 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $776,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA183252-12 |
| Project ID | NIH-11237988 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would include people with AML or related blood cancers, or individuals found to have DNMT3A or NPM1 mutations or clonal hematopoiesis who can provide samples or medical data.
✕Less likely to help
People whose leukemia is driven by unrelated mutations or those with very advanced disease may not receive direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will examine how DNMT3A mutations change blood stem cells and allow early pre-cancerous clones to survive and expand. They will use mouse models, human leukemia cell lines, and patient leukemia samples to see how loss of DNMT3A alters chromatin and boosts the activity of a common partner mutation, NPM1c. The team will trace steps from the initial mutation through transformation to identify weak points in pre-malignant cells. Findings will be used to suggest ways to detect or remove these early clones before they become aggressive leukemia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to tests or treatments that detect or remove pre-leukemia clones and reduce progression to AML.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown DNMT3A mutations are common in pre-leukemic clones and linked to leukemia risk, but turning those findings into preventive treatments is still at an early, experimental stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goodell, Margaret a. — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Goodell, Margaret a.
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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.