Understanding pediatric cancers in low-income countries using affordable sequencing technology
Official title: Characterization of Diverse Pediatric Cancers in LMIC Using Low-Cost Nanopore Sequencing
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10945892 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to make it easier and cheaper to diagnose childhood cancers, especially leukemia, in low and middle-income countries, so that kids can get better treatment and care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $627,939 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA293366-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10945892 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years diagnosed with various types of cancers, particularly those living in low and middle-income countries.
✕Less likely to help
Patients living in high-income countries or those with cancers that are already well-diagnosed and treated may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving the diagnosis of pediatric cancers in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) by utilizing low-cost nanopore sequencing technology. The project aims to characterize various types of childhood cancers, particularly acute leukemia, to enhance treatment outcomes for affected children. By integrating genomic sequencing into cancer diagnostics, the research seeks to bridge the gap in healthcare disparities between high-income and low-income regions. The methodology involves collecting samples from pediatric patients and analyzing them using innovative sequencing techniques to provide accurate diagnoses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve survival rates for children with cancer in low-income countries by enabling timely and accurate diagnoses.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that integrating genomic sequencing into cancer diagnostics can lead to improved outcomes, although this specific approach using low-cost nanopore sequencing is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Jeremy R — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Wang, Jeremy R
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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.