Epigenomic profiling in paediatric lymphoid leukaemias- perspectives for diagnostics, prognosis and therapy

• Applicant: Privatdozentin Dr. Anke Katharina Bergmann
• Subject Area: Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
• Term: from 2018 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 394171673

The proposed network will unify the expertise of paediatric-oncologists, adult-oncologists, geneticists, biologists and bioinformaticians to decipher the epigenome of paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemias (ALL) in the context of their genome and clinical presentation. All network partners are experienced in genomic, epigenomic and/or clinical national and international projects about haematopoietic cancers. The causes of childhood leukaemia are not sufficiently understood and novel treatment targets are needed to improve survival rates of aggressive leukaemias. Moreover, molecular alterations and their molecular and clinical consequences in paediatric leukaemias should be understood as precisely as possible to perform functional and translational studies in ALL with scientific impact.Although the genetic alterations in paediatric ALL are well characterised, the epigenome of paediatric ALL is just partially understood.Thus, we aim to establish a long-term platform of collaboration and a powerhouse for new ideas in the biological, bioinformatic and clinical context. The combined expertise of different specialists from renowned institutions will help to accelerate and improve the gain of knowledge.Based on reference epigenomes, comprehensive clinical and genomic data of 15 paediatric ALL cases of different subtypes and DNA-methylation data of 120 additional cases, we aim to accomplish at least one cooperative high impact paper on the integrative genomic and epigenomic analyses in comparison to benign B-cell precursor cells. In addition, we aim to establish, based on the results, profiles-to-function approaches and to implement findings into clinical studies with the goal of setting up cooperative projects and grant applications, possibly even a Transregio SFB. In the long term, the network should achieve national and international reputation.

• DFG Programme: Scientific Networks