Genetic causes of prostate cancer in African American families
Family RESPOND: Defining the Genetic Basis of Prostate Cancer Risk in African American Families
This project looks at inherited genetic changes that raise prostate cancer risk in African American men and their relatives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310151 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will enroll African American men with prostate cancer and their family members to collect blood or saliva samples and family health histories. Researchers will look for rare, high-impact gene mutations and many common genetic variants, then combine them into polygenic risk scores and panel testing results. They will compare genetic findings to what is known from people of European ancestry to identify differences in risk patterns. The goal is to create better, more accurate genetic risk information that could help guide screening, treatment, and family testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are African American men with prostate cancer and their first-degree relatives, especially families with early-onset or aggressive disease.
Not a fit: People who are not of African ancestry, who do not have a family history of prostate cancer, or who are unwilling to provide samples or health information are unlikely to be eligible or benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could give African American men and their families more accurate genetic risk information to improve screening and treatment decisions.
How similar studies have performed: Combining gene-panel testing and polygenic risk scores has improved risk prediction in European-ancestry groups, but applying this combined approach in African American families is less tested and somewhat novel.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haiman, Christopher Alan — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Haiman, Christopher Alan
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.