Tracking brain and thinking changes during childhood leukemia treatment
Official title: Identifying markers of abnormal neurocognitive trajectories during chemotherapy treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Funded at Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst · NIH-11168983 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows young children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia to find early signs of changing brain development and thinking skills during chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $559,503 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA266135-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11168983 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who are currently receiving chemotherapy, especially those diagnosed before school age, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Adults, people without ALL, or long‑term survivors not being followed during active treatment are unlikely to be eligible or directly helped by this project.
What this research studies
You would have regular, age‑appropriate thinking and behavior tests and non‑sedated brain scans while your child is receiving chemotherapy to look for early changes. The team compares results over time to pinpoint when and how treatment affects brain growth and cognitive skills. Findings will be used to identify markers that signal risk for later learning or attention problems and to inform when to offer support. The work builds on a small pilot where children completed testing and imaging at two time points about six months apart.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help detect thinking and learning problems earlier and guide interventions to reduce long‑term cognitive effects of treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Long‑term survivor studies have documented cognitive problems after ALL and a small pilot during treatment suggests this longitudinal testing and imaging approach can reveal early changes, but the approach is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Der Plas, Ellen — Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Van Der Plas, Ellen
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Markers of neurocognitive changes during chemotherapy in children with ALL
A research project looks at how chemotherapy affects thinking skills in kids with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, to help families understand and guide care.
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Identifying brain development issues in children undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia
This study is looking at how chemotherapy for childhood leukemia might impact brain development and thinking skills in kids, so we can find ways to help them avoid any learning challenges later on.
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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.
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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.
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.