Genes that make leukemia stem cells grow and cause AML to come back
Official title: Genes regulating stem and progenitor cell expansion and relapse in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11300246 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at which genes help leukemia stem cells survive treatment and cause AML to return in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | March 10, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $450,501 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA291806-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11300246 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with AML, especially those in remission or at higher risk of relapse, would be the most relevant candidates to contribute samples or be considered for future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Children, people without AML, or patients needing urgent lifesaving treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
This work follows how long-lived blood stem cells acquire changes that let them survive chemotherapy and later regrow into full leukemia. Researchers will study patient samples alongside lab-grown cells and animal models to trace the steps from normal stem cell to pre-leukemic and leukemic stem cell. By comparing genetic changes and cell behavior before and after treatment, they will pinpoint the mechanisms that allow leukemia to persist and relapse. The goal is to identify genes that could become targets for new tests or therapies to stop relapse.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to ways to detect or block the cells that cause AML to come back, improving long-term survival.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have identified genes like DNMT3A and TET2 that drive pre-leukemic clones, but translating these findings into reliable relapse-preventing treatments remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Malek, Sami Nimer — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Malek, Sami Nimer
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding genes that affect stem cell growth and relapse in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
This study is looking at how certain genes affect the growth of blood cells in people with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) to understand why some patients might experience a return of the disease after treatment, with the hope of finding better ways to help them.
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Targeting the protein housekeeping system in adult leukemia
Researchers are testing a new approach to treat acute myeloid leukemia by disrupting how AML cells manage their proteins, with the goal of helping patients live longer and healthier lives.
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Understanding how epigenetic helper proteins drive AML and how to target them
A scientist team is studying how accessory proteins in gene-regulating complexes affect acute myeloid leukemia and whether they can be targeted for safer, more precise therapies.
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Targeting FLVCR1-enabled choline use in a aggressive AML subtype
A new approach aims to block how a specific leukemia subtype (CG-AML) takes up choline to feed its growth, potentially slowing or stopping the disease.
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.