HJAR Jan/Feb 2026

38 JAN / FEB 2026 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS ADH CORNER COLUMN CHILDREN’S HEALTH Two National Institutes of Health-fund- ed research initiatives run by the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI) aim to improve long-term outcomes for children and teens with acute lymphoblastic leuke- mia (ALL). One project focuses on early cog- nitive assessments to identify neurocogni- tive effects soon after diagnosis. The second evaluates the impact of structured exercise programs on physical function, fatigue, and overall quality of life in children undergoing therapy for ALL. Because the two projects Ellen van der Plas, PhD Researcher Arkansas Children’s Research Institute target ALL patients, the principal investiga- tors coordinated efforts by recruiting differ- ent age groups to ensure the studies did not unintentionally impact each other. Tracking Early Brain Changes in Pediatric Leukemia Many survivors experience lasting cogni- tive challenges that interfere with daily life because leukemia therapies target the brain. However, the cause of these cognitive issues remains unclear. Being able to identify the earliest signs of brain changes will help to de- sign effective strategies to prevent or lessen these cognitive challenges post-treatment. “Identifying Markers of Abnormal Neuro- cognitive Trajectories during Chemotherapy Treatment of ChildhoodAcute Lymphoblastic Leukemia” aims to help leukemia survivors achieve the same quality of life as their peers who have not had cancer by answering the question: “What are the earliest signs of ab- normal brain development in children who are newly diagnosed with leukemia?” Studying&Enhancing Quality of Life for Pediatric Leukemia Survivors With survival rates for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia approaching 95%, attention is shifting to improving the quality of life of survivors after treatment.