The assessment of Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) in children with leukaemia has been transformative, allowing patients at high-risk of relapse to be identified early and have their treatment rapidly altered. But since each patient’s tumour is unique, the identification of genetic MRD markers is currently labour intensive, and for many patients an MRD marker cannot be identified. In this KCA funded project, we propose to use Whole Genome Sequencing data and develop new methods to streamline the identification of patient-specific genetic MRD markers, applicable to all types of leukaemia’s. Furthermore, we propose that each patient’s genomic profile can be used to stage patients into different risk categories and identify new treatment options. This funding, combined with a team of MRD, leukaemia and genomics experts will allow us to retrospectively, and prospectively determine whether WGS provides a new paradigm for MRD.
Started: 1 January 2020
Ending: 31 December 2021
