A blood test that looks at DNA fragments and methylation to predict aggressive prostate cancer
Official title: A cfDNA methylo-fragmentomic assay for prediction of risk-progression in Prostate Cancer
Funded at Claret Bioscience, LLC · NIH-11407859 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new blood-based test uses cfDNA fragment patterns and methylation to predict which prostate cancers may become high-risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Claret Bioscience, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $385,919 |
| NIH project number | 1R43CA314763-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11407859 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men with diagnosed or suspected prostate cancer who could benefit from risk stratification.
✕Less likely to help
Men with very low-risk disease or those not undergoing active surveillance may not benefit from this test.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a non-invasive, blood-based test to forecast which men with prostate cancer are likely to progress to more aggressive disease. It combines fragmentomics and methylomics in a single sequencing workflow to identify cancer signals without needing invasive procedures. If feasible, this tool could help doctors tailor monitoring and treatment decisions based on risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the test could enable earlier, more personalized care and reduce unnecessary procedures for men with prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Other cfDNA-based approaches have shown promise, but simultaneous fragmentomics and methylomics in a single assay for this purpose is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Claret Bioscience, LLC
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rao, Varsha — Claret Bioscience, LLC
- Study coordinator: Rao, Varsha
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.