A blood test that uses tiny particles to find liver cancer early
Official title: Developing and Automating an Extracellular Vesicle-Based Test for Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Funded at Eximius Diagnostics Corp · NIH-11190892 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is creating an automated blood test that looks for tumor-derived extracellular vesicles to help people at high risk for liver cancer get detected sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Eximius Diagnostics Corp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $661,609 |
| NIH project number | 5R44CA288163-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11190892 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B, or other conditions that put them at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma are the intended candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without liver disease or those who already have confirmed, advanced liver cancer are unlikely to benefit from this screening test.
What this research studies
The team is building an automated blood test that detects extracellular vesicles—tiny particles cells release—that carry surface proteins linked to liver tumors. They will analyze plasma samples to identify and quantify HCC-specific vesicle subpopulations based on surface protein signatures. The work combines Eximius Diagnostics with researchers at UCLA and Cedars‑Sinai and builds on the group's prior demonstration of an HCC EV surface protein test. The goal is to make a reliable, automatable test suitable for screening people at high risk, like those with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the test could detect liver cancer earlier than current ultrasound/AFP screening and increase the chances of curative treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Early studies and the team's prior 2022 work show promise for EV surface protein signatures as HCC biomarkers, but larger clinical validation is still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Eximius Diagnostics Corp
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tseng, Hsian-Rong — Eximius Diagnostics Corp
- Study coordinator: Tseng, Hsian-Rong
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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.