# The Genetic Study of Families with a High Frequency of Hematopoietic Malignancy

> **NIH NIH R03** · ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL · 2022 · $33,787

## Abstract

Lay Summary
Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) and B precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) are common
malignancies of childhood with well documented evidence of familial clustering. This familial
clustering may be explained by changes in DNA which may lead to diseases that can be passed
from generation to generation. However, to date little is known regarding which mutations in
genes are causing HL or B-ALL within families. To better identify these genes, we have
performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) on the largest group of families with a high
frequency of HL or B-ALL. Having this WGS information from both affected and unaffected
family members improves the possibility of finding a potential genetic basis of these important
pediatric cancers of childhood within the families. Preliminary analyses of our WGS results have
identified potential genes of interest, but extensive analysis is needed to interrogate coding
regions, non-coding regions, copy number variants and structural variants. All findings from our
families will then be validated for frequency in a sporadic cohort of patients with these diseases
that have already have WGS performed and their data are available for analyses. This research
is important because it provides an innovative and comprehensive approach to answering the
question of what predisposes patients to the development of HL and B-ALL. The knowledge
gained through this study will be invaluable as it will help us understand the origin of the disease
and identify better screening, prevention and treatment for patients with HL and B-ALL.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10398804
- **Project number:** 5R03HD104066-02
- **Recipient organization:** ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMIE ELIZABETH FLERLAGE
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $33,787
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-05-01 → 2023-09-01

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10398804

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10398804, The Genetic Study of Families with a High Frequency of Hematopoietic Malignancy (5R03HD104066-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10398804. Licensed CC0.

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