Wafaa M Rashed, Chair and Founder of PAPERI (Pan-African PGS Education and Research Initiative), shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Animal Contact and Childhood Leukemia
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Through global collaboration, the Childhood Cancer and Leukemia International Consortium (CLIC) investigates potential risk and protective factors for childhood cancers. This effort helps separate real risks from misconceptions.
Study Highlight:
A pooled analysis by CLIC examined whether early-life exposure to animals influences the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Key Insight:
Children who had regular contact with livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep) or pets (cats, dogs) in their first year of life had a reduced risk of developing ALL.
Why It Matters:
Early-life exposures to animals may help strengthen and regulate the developing immune system in ways that reduce leukemia risk. Identifying protective factors is just as important as identifying risks—it provides guidance for healthier environments in early childhood.
Call to Action:
Stay tuned this month as I continue sharing more of CLIC’s research findings. Each study brings us closer to understanding the causes of childhood cancer—and ultimately, its prevention.”
More posts featuring Wafaa M Rashed.