Finding New Treatments for Childhood Leukemia
NCI Pediatric In Vivo Testing Program - Leukemia
This research aims to discover more effective medicines for children with aggressive or hard-to-treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New South Wales NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Sydney, Australia) |
| Project ID | NIH-11127479 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our goal is to improve treatment options for children facing aggressive or drug-resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We do this by carefully testing new medicines in advanced laboratory models that closely mimic the disease in patients. These models, called patient-derived xenografts, are created from actual patient samples and grown in special mice, allowing us to see how new drugs might work before they are given to children. This helps us identify the most promising drugs to move forward into clinical trials, maximizing the chances of finding better cures.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This preclinical research is designed to benefit future pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, particularly those whose disease is aggressive or has not responded to current treatments.
Not a fit: Patients currently undergoing treatment or those whose leukemia is well-controlled may not directly benefit from this early-stage drug discovery work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the discovery and prioritization of new, more effective drugs for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, especially those with aggressive or resistant forms of the disease.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical testing programs using patient-derived models have shown promise in identifying effective treatments for various cancers, though each new drug candidate is unique.
Where this research is happening
Sydney, Australia
- University of New South Wales — Sydney, Australia (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lock, Richard B — University of New South Wales
- Study coordinator: Lock, Richard B
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.