How West African ancestry shapes immune responses in triple-negative breast cancer
Official title: The DARC side of Breast Cancer Disparities - African Ancestry and Cancer- Related Immune Response
Funded at Morehouse School of Medicine · NIH-11398720 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are comparing tumor immune patterns and gene activity in triple-negative breast cancer patients with West African ancestry to understand why outcomes differ.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Morehouse School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $15,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA259396-05S3 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398720 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are women diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer who have West African ancestry or identify as African, African American, or Afro-Caribbean and who can provide tumor samples and clinical information.
✕Less likely to help
People without triple-negative breast cancer, or those unwilling to provide tissue or clinical data, are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
I would be asked to let doctors use my tumor tissue and health records so they can compare gene activity, proteins, and immune cells across people with West African ancestry and other groups. The team will combine genetic ancestry data with tumor gene expression and protein measurements to find ancestry-linked immune patterns. They will include samples from African, African American, and Afro-Caribbean patients to make sure findings reflect diverse groups. The goal is to define tumor immune types that might explain differences in prognosis and treatment response.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to more tailored treatments or better prognostic tests for women with triple-negative breast cancer who have West African ancestry.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown links between West African ancestry and higher TNBC risk and some immune differences, but combining ancestry-linked gene expression with proteomics to define new tumor immune types is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Morehouse School of Medicine
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davis, Melissa B — Morehouse School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Davis, Melissa B
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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.