Finding genetic causes of lung cancer in African-American families
Official title: Identifying germline pathogenic variants in familial lung cancer among African-Americans
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11042728 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at the genes of African-American families with a history of lung cancer to find out why they might be at higher risk, hoping to discover new ways to help prevent the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $80,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R03CA282953-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11042728 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are African-Americans with a family history of lung cancer, particularly those with first-degree relatives affected by the disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a family history of lung cancer or those from non-African-American backgrounds may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the genetic factors contributing to familial lung cancer specifically among African-Americans, who experience higher rates of this disease. By analyzing whole genome sequencing data from African-American families with a history of lung cancer, the study aims to identify rare genetic variants that may increase cancer risk. The research utilizes a family-based approach, comparing affected individuals with their unaffected relatives to uncover hereditary patterns. This could lead to a better understanding of lung cancer risk in this population and inform future prevention strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved genetic screening and targeted prevention strategies for lung cancer in African-American families.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown success in identifying genetic variants associated with lung cancer in other populations, but this research is novel in its focus on African-American families.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Yanhong — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Liu, Yanhong
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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.