Dr. Richard Aplenc: Using Big Data in the Fight Against Myeloid Leukemia in Children
Ljubljana, March 9, 2026 – Opening this year’s Speaker Series lecture cycle, ASEF hosted leading pediatric oncology expert and ASEF mentor Dr. Richard Aplenc at the Prešeren Hall of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU). Dr. Aplenc offered the audience a fascinating insight into how modern big data technology is transforming the understanding and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in children.
A Bridge Between Science and Clinical Practice
Dr. Richard Aplenc is a Professor of Pediatrics as well as Biostatistics, Informatics, and Epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, where he holds the prestigious “Mai and Harry West Endowed Chair in Pediatric Research.” As a dedicated ASEF mentor, he passes on his extensive knowledge to new generations of researchers.
His career is devoted to improving treatment outcomes for children with AML. Dr. Aplenc led the largest phase III clinical trial for pediatric AML to date (COG AAML1031) and is a co-inventor of innovative therapies, such as “anti-CD38 CAR,” which are currently in the testing phase. His work directly bridges the gap between laboratory discoveries and the patient’s bedside, creating new possibilities for the survival of children with cancer.
AML: The Challenge of Personalized Medicine
Dr. Aplenc explained that AML is not a single disease but a group of different subtypes, which today are classified primarily by their genomic characteristics. Because treatment is extremely intensive and the disease recurs in approximately half of the children, it is crucial to find targeted therapies that are more effective and less toxic.
Three Pillars of Dr. Aplenc’s Research
Dr. Aplenc’s research portfolio is based on the use of big data in three key areas:
Real-World Data and ExtractEHR: To accelerate the analysis of clinical pathways, Dr. Aplenc co-developed ExtractEHR, a software package for the automated extraction of data from electronic health records. The tool is already in use in nine centers across the US and enables the processing of vast amounts of information that were previously inaccessible due to time-consuming manual work.
Clinical Trials and Cardiac Toxicity: In addition to leading extensive trials, Dr. Aplenc focuses on secondary data analyses to study the side effects of treatment, particularly heart damage (cardiac toxicity) associated with the use of anthracyclines.
Translational Studies and Proteogenomics: Using next-generation sequencing, researchers are searching for new targets on the surface of leukemia cells. Through proteogenomics – the integration of genomic and protein data – they are developing new forms of immunotherapies tailored to the specific patient.
Dr. Richard Aplenc’s lecture shed light on the future of pediatric oncology. By integrating big data, innovative software tools, and a deep biological understanding of the disease, we are entering the era of precision care. As Dr. Aplenc emphasized, it is the collaboration between top institutions and the use of modern informatics that ensures scientific breakthroughs become a reality in hospitals more quickly.
The event was organized with the support of the Government Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Abroad and the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Youth.