Pharmacogenomics to tailor ALL treatment for Latino kids
Official title: Project 3: Pharmacogenomic advancements for improved treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Latino children and adolescents
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11420847 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research program will study how genetic differences affect how Latino children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia respond to treatment, with the aim of guiding safer, more effective care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $233,935 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA302464-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11420847 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Latino children and adolescents diagnosed with ALL who are receiving or about to receive standard ALL therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to pharmacogenomic testing or those with different genetic backgrounds not studied may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project focuses on how inherited genetic differences influence the risks and benefits of ALL therapies in Latino children and adolescents. Researchers plan to identify key genetic variants and assess how these variants impact drug toxicity and treatment responses. The goal is to develop pharmacogenomic guidance that can be used in clinical care to personalize therapy and minimize adverse effects. The study will address gaps in knowledge about variant frequencies and utility in diverse populations, with a view toward implementing PGx testing in real-world pediatric ALL care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to personalized treatment plans that reduce toxicities and improve outcomes for Latino children and teens with ALL.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has linked certain genetic variants to drug toxicities; this program aims to extend those findings to Latino populations and implement testing in care.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pereira, Stacey — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Pereira, Stacey
Related research
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Caregiver-led mobile tool to support healthy habits for kids treated for ALL
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Genomics of childhood ALL across global populations
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-
Genomics of childhood ALL across diverse populations
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-
Combinatorial targeting for high-risk B-cell ALL treatment
A research effort at West Virginia University is exploring a combination therapy for adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia using targeted gene silencing and a small-molecule compound to improve treatment in patients.
-
Understanding why Latino children have a higher risk of childhood ALL
This project looks at why Latino children are more likely to develop acute lymphoblastic leukemia and whether genetic ancestry plays a role, with the goal of improving prevention and outcomes.
-
Targeting obesity to improve survival for children with ALL
A new approach explores whether reducing obesity-related factors can make chemotherapy work better for kids with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
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.