Understanding HER2-positive breast cancer in diverse communities
Official title: Her2 status of breast cancer in diverse populations: improving genetic prediction and understanding molecular correlates
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11320872 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at genetic and tumor features that may explain why HER2-positive breast cancer is more common in Hispanic/Latina, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Indigenous, and other diverse groups.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $380,985 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA273313-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11320872 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with breast cancer—especially those from Hispanic/Latina, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Indigenous American, African, or other underrepresented ancestries—who can provide tumor samples or genetic/clinical data.
✕Less likely to help
People without breast cancer or those whose tumors are already known to be HER2-negative should not expect direct personal benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers may use your tumor tissue and DNA to look for genetic markers and molecular patterns linked to HER2-positive breast cancer. They will combine tumor profiling, genetic ancestry analysis, and clinical information from people of Hispanic/Latina, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Indigenous, African, and European ancestry. The team will build and improve genetic prediction tools that work better for non-European populations and compare molecular differences across groups. The goal is to make diagnosis and treatment decisions fairer and more accurate for diverse patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors better predict who is likely to have HER2-positive tumors and support fairer use of HER2-targeted treatments across diverse populations.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have reported higher proportions of HER2-positive tumors in some non-European groups and related genetic links, but this project expands those findings with broader ancestry-focused molecular and genetic analyses.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fejerman, Laura — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Fejerman, Laura
Related research
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This project looks at genetic and molecular factors linked to HER2-positive breast cancer in women from Hispanic/Latina, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Indigenous American, African, and other diverse backgrounds.
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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.