How often and how long the ETV6/RUNX1 leukemia gene appears in children
Prevalence and persistence of the ETV6/RUNX1 pre-leukemic clone
Researchers will look for a leukemia-related gene in newborn blood spots and follow children's blood over time to see how common it is and whether it stays present in kids who do and do not develop childhood ALL.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168792 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You or your child's newborn blood spot would be tested for the ETV6/RUNX1 gene fusion using a new, sensitive method. The team will compare about 500 children who later developed leukemia with about 3,000 children who did not, using stored newborn blood spots. For many children they will also test follow-up blood samples collected in early childhood to check how long the gene persists. This work is done at the University of Minnesota and uses laboratory testing of blood spots and blood draws over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are newborns or young children for whom newborn blood spots and/or early-childhood blood samples can be provided, including children who later developed ALL and children who remained healthy.
Not a fit: Children currently undergoing leukemia treatment are unlikely to get direct clinical benefit because this project focuses on detecting and tracking a pre-leukemia marker rather than providing therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify which infants carry a pre-leukemic marker and improve understanding of who might need closer monitoring or future prevention efforts.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have found the ETV6/RUNX1 fusion at birth in some children who later develop ALL, but this larger project uses an improved detection method to better define how common and persistent it is.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marcotte, Erin — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Marcotte, Erin
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.