Why prostate cancer affects men of African ancestry differently
Official title: Genomic bases for African geo-ethnic prostate cancer health disparity
Funded at University of Sydney · NIH-11399700 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will compare tumor and blood genomes from men of African ancestry to find genetic, environmental, and microbial factors linked to more aggressive prostate cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Sydney NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Sydney, Australia) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $481,612 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA285772-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399700 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are men of African ancestry (including men from sub-Saharan Africa or the African diaspora) with prostate cancer who can provide tumor tissue and a blood sample.
✕Less likely to help
Men without prostate cancer or those unwilling/unable to provide tumor samples are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participating.
What this research studies
If you join, doctors will collect blood and tumor samples and sequence their whole genomes to look for inherited mutations and changes the tumor acquired. The team will compare genomic patterns across men from Africa, the African diaspora, and other groups to separate ancestry (genetic) effects from geographic or environmental influences. They will also search the normally discarded non-human DNA in tumors for bacterial or viral clues that might drive long-term inflammation. The project plans to build a representative dataset of about 700 cases to power these comparisons.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Results could improve risk prediction, earlier detection, and more tailored prevention or treatment strategies for men of African ancestry with prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Large cancer genome projects have uncovered tumor drivers and mutational signatures in other populations, but a geo-ancestrally representative whole-genome approach focused on men of African ancestry is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Sydney
Sydney, Australia Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hayes, Vanessa Marie — University of Sydney
- Study coordinator: Hayes, Vanessa Marie
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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.