Understanding thinking and learning differences in Latino children treated for leukemia

An Integrative Approach to Evaluate Neurocognitive Disparities in Latinos Undergoing Treatment for Childhood Leukemia.

NIH-funded research Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11126043

This project looks at how childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and its treatment affect thinking, memory, school, and economic outcomes for Latino children and survivors.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBaylor College of Medicine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Houston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11126043 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You or your child would be followed from diagnosis through seven years after treatment with detailed tests of thinking, memory, attention, and school functioning. The team will use the ongoing REDIAL cohort and perform deep neurocognitive testing in about 400 children treated for ALL, with more than half of participants being Latino. Researchers will combine clinical records, socioeconomic and cultural information, and biological data including genetic ancestry to see what factors relate to thinking and learning problems. The goal is to understand why Latino survivors may experience different long-term cognitive and educational outcomes than non-Latino survivors.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and survivors followed up to seven years after diagnosis, especially Latino children and young adults treated for childhood ALL, are the ideal participants.

Not a fit: People without a history of childhood ALL, those treated for other cancers, or individuals far beyond the study's follow-up window are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help tailor follow-up care, educational support, and interventions to reduce thinking and learning problems for Latino childhood leukemia survivors.

How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked genetic ancestry to relapse risk and treatment neurotoxicity, but few large studies have combined long-term neurocognitive testing with socioeconomic and cultural data specifically in Latino survivors, so this work builds on earlier findings with a more comprehensive approach.

Where this research is happening

Houston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.