Looking for leukemia-related genetic changes in newborn cord blood
Backtracking Leukemia-Typical Somatic Alterations in Cord Blood at Single-cell Resolution
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · NIH-11136291
Researchers will search newborn cord blood for genetic changes linked to childhood acute leukemia to see if those changes were present at birth.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11136291 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If your child was diagnosed with acute childhood leukemia, the team will compare the child’s diagnostic tumor profile with their stored cord blood or newborn samples to look for the same genetic alterations. They will use sensitive methods including flow-sorting of cord blood cells and droplet digital PCR, plus single-cell approaches, to find and count rare preleukemic cells. The project will analyze matched samples from about 250 children (focusing on ~182 with known translocations or mutations) collected through the Children’s Oncology Group. The goals are to learn how often leukemia starts before birth, which cell types first carry the changes, and whether some newborns are more likely to have these early lesions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic or myeloid leukemia who have stored cord blood, newborn blood spots, or linked samples available through their treating pediatric cancer center are the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Families without any stored newborn or cord-blood samples, or patients whose leukemia lacks identifiable single driver mutations, are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal which babies carry early leukemia changes and guide future monitoring or prevention efforts.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has shown some leukemia drivers can arise before birth (for example certain translocations), so parts of this approach have precedent, but much of the work—especially broad single-cell backtracking—is novel.
Where this research is happening
MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA — MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SPECTOR, LOGAN G. — UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- Study coordinator: SPECTOR, LOGAN G.
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.