Mentor Name: Richard Aplenc

Pediatric AML is the second most common pediatric hematologic malignancy and requires very intensive, typically inpatient therapy. To improve outcomes, research efforts have focused on defining the genomic landscape of AML to better understand favorable versus unfavorable genetics along with their impact on treatment outcomes. Dr. Aplenc, in collaboration with Dr. Kelly Getz, has developed a real-world AML chart abstraction cohort that can aid this investigation. This cohort covers AML patients diagnosed at 17 institutions across the United States between 2011-2025 and currently includes approximately 1,400 patients. Data collection includes clinical outcome data and clinical genetic testing data at initial diagnosis and first relapse. This cohort serves as the only multi-center, real world data source for pediatric AML in the United States. This cohort is uniquely positioned to describe the real-world use of genetic testing in pediatric AML and to validate current risk stratification that was developed in cooperative clinical trial groups.