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Jennifer Belsky D.O.
Funded: 07-01-2025
through 06-30-2028
Funding Type: St. Baldrick's Scholar
Institution Location:
Indianapolis, IN
Institution: Indiana University
affiliated with Riley Hospital for Children, IU Health Proton Therapy Center
Vincristine is a chemotherapy drug commonly used to treat cancer in children and young adults, but it can cause vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN), a side effect that leads to numbness, pain, weakness, and difficulty with balance. These symptoms can severely impact daily life and may require chemotherapy dose reductions or discontinuation, potentially affecting cancer treatment outcomes. Currently, doctors use a grading system to assess VIPN severity, but this method is not sensitive enough to detect early symptoms and is difficult to implement consistently. Therefore, there is a need for a more reliable and accessible way to identify VIPN early. Dr. Belsky will utilize a potential solution of a blood test to measure neurofilament light chain (NfL), a substance released during nerve damage. Dr. Belsky and colleagues will explore whether NfL levels can detect VIPN in children and young adults to improve the ability to monitor nerve damage, enabling doctors to adjust treatments earlier, optimizing cancer care.