Understanding how genetics contribute to childhood B-ALL (a type of leukemia)
Official title: Variant to Function Mapping of B-ALL Risk Loci
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11379150 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to map genetic risk factors that lead to relapse or development of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children, with a focus on diverse populations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $671,156 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA292941-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379150 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0-11 years who are at risk for or affected by B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, including diverse ancestry groups.
✕Less likely to help
Children without B-ALL or those outside the pediatric age range may not directly benefit from this genetic research.
What this research studies
This project will combine large genetic studies across multiple ancestries with single-cell epigenomic data to identify which genetic variants actually cause B-ALL. Researchers will then use targeted base editing in blood stem and progenitor cells to see how those variants influence normal B cell development. The goal is to uncover the root genetic mechanisms that lead to B-ALL so future prevention and better outcomes can be pursued. The work is done at Boston Children’s Hospital and involves collaboration to translate genetic findings into actionable insights for patients and families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to better understanding of why some children develop B-ALL and lay the groundwork for prevention and targeted therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous GWAS have identified risk loci, and this study builds on that work with functional follow-up in human cells, which is a promising but ongoing area.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sankaran, Vijay Ganesh — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sankaran, Vijay Ganesh
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Preventing childhood B-ALL through maternal diet and TVA intake
A study at Loyola University Chicago will explore whether a mother’s intake of TVA during pregnancy can help prevent childhood B-ALL in babies.
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Metabolic drivers of B-ALL diversity and relapse risk
A study at Stanford will explore how diverse B-cell receptor rearrangements and their metabolism shape relapse risk in children and adults with B-ALL, with the goal of improving detection and treatment.
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Donor CAR T Cells Added to Transplant to Prevent Relapse in adults with B-ALL
A new approach combines donor CAR-T cells targeting CD19 and CD22 with a stem cell transplant to lower relapse risk in adults with B-ALL.
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Improving CAR T-cell therapy for pediatric B-ALL
A physician-scientist at St. Jude aims to advance CAR T-cell therapy for children with high-risk B-ALL by testing new donor-derived and enhanced autologous CAR T-cell approaches in early-phase trials.
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Targeting VAV3 and ERa to treat high‑risk B-ALL in adults and children
This grant tests a new treatment strategy that combines a VAV3 inhibitor with an estrogen receptor degrader to help patients with difficult-to-treat B-ALL, including relapsed cases.
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Off-the-shelf regulatory T cell therapy for blood cancers (CAR-T Tregs)
A patient-focused look at a potential cell therapy that uses donor-derived regulatory T cells engineered to attack certain blood cancers.
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.