Preventing fatal infections in children with Down syndrome during ALL treatment
Official title: Preventing Fatal Infections in Children with Down Syndrome During Treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11398896 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at reducing deadly infections in children with Down syndrome undergoing chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia by finding biomarkers to tailor treatment and supportive care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $533,887 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA290539-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398896 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with Down syndrome who are treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and are at risk of infection-related mortality.
✕Less likely to help
DS-ALL patients who do not experience infectious complications or whose biomarkers do not indicate high risk may not benefit from altered treatment.
What this research studies
This project uses mouse models of Down syndrome treated with leukemia chemotherapy and exposes them to infections to find circulating biomarkers. Those biomarkers will then be checked in blood samples from DS-ALL patients, comparing those who experience severe infections to those who do not. The goal is to identify high-risk patients early so doctors can adjust treatment and supportive care to prevent infection-related deaths. If successful, the findings could lead to personalized care that improves survival for DS-ALL patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enable early identification of DS-ALL patients at high risk for infection, allowing personalized treatment adjustments to reduce mortality.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows higher infection-related mortality in DS-ALL and supports biomarker discovery as a promising approach, though this specific biomarker-based stratification is still under investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ryeom, Sandra — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Ryeom, Sandra
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Preventing deadly infections in children with Down syndrome during leukemia treatment
This project looks for blood markers that can identify children with Down syndrome and acute lymphoblastic leukemia who are at high risk for life-threatening infections so doctors can offer extra protection early.
-
Investigating the link between Down syndrome and acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children
This study is looking into why kids with Down syndrome are more likely to get a type of blood cancer called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and it hopes to find out how their genes play a role in this so that we can help keep them healthier.
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Investigating genetic factors that increase leukemia risk in children with Down syndrome
This study is looking at how certain genes might affect the chances of children with Down syndrome getting acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), so we can find ways to better predict and prevent this risk for those kids.
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Caregiver-led mobile tool to support healthy habits for kids treated for ALL
A caregiver-directed mobile program helps children who were treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia build healthier daily routines.
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Genomics of childhood ALL across global populations
A wide-ranging study looks at how inherited genetics influence the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia around the world.
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Genomics of childhood ALL across diverse populations
A large international study will look at why children everywhere get acute lymphoblastic leukemia and how genetics may influence risk.
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.