A toolkit for analyzing rare cancer cells in blood and tissue samples
Official title: RarecyteFinder: A Bench-to-Bits Toolkit for Label-Free, Whole-Spectrum Analysis of Rare Disseminated Tumor Cells in Liquid and Tissue Biopsies
Funded at Institute for Systems Biology · NIH-11028162 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new way to find and study rare cancer cells in blood and tissue samples, which can help doctors understand how cancer spreads and how well treatments are working, making it easier for patients to get the care they need.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Institute for Systems Biology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $554,653 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA296872-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11028162 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include patients with various types of cancer who may have disseminated tumor cells present in their blood or tissue samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage cancer or those without detectable disseminated tumor cells may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new toolkit to identify and analyze rare disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) found in blood and tissue biopsies. These cells are crucial for understanding cancer metastasis and progression, but they are often difficult to detect due to their rarity. The project aims to create a label-free, whole-spectrum analysis method that improves the accuracy of detecting these cells without relying on traditional markers. By enhancing detection methods, the research seeks to provide better insights into cancer staging and treatment responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate cancer diagnoses and improved monitoring of treatment effectiveness for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in developing advanced detection methods for circulating tumor cells, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in cancer diagnostics.
Where this research is happening
-
Institute for Systems Biology
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wei, Wei — Institute for Systems Biology
- Study coordinator: Wei, Wei
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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.