AI-powered chairside chip test to detect precancer and early oral cancer during dental and medical visits
Official title: Oral Dysplasia and Oral Cavity Cancer Risk in Dental and Medical Surveillance Settings Using a Chairside Chip-Based Cytopathology Tool
Funded at New York University · NIH-11301800 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small chip-based cell test using AI to help dentists and doctors spot precancerous changes and early oral cancer in people with suspicious mouth lesions or a history of oral cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | April 7, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $722,544 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE031319-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11301800 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have visible suspicious mouth lesions, been diagnosed with oral epithelial dysplasia, or have a history of oral squamous cell carcinoma and are under dental or medical surveillance.
✕Less likely to help
People without mouth lesions or those whose care depends on full tissue biopsy for treatment decisions may not gain direct benefit from this chip test.
What this research studies
You will provide a quick, non-invasive mouth cell sample during a dental or medical visit that is run on a portable chip which images individual cells. The system uses microfluidics and artificial intelligence to categorize cells and flag signs of oral epithelial dysplasia or squamous cell carcinoma. Researchers will follow participants over time in a multi-institution prospective cohort to compare the chip results with standard biopsies and clinical outcomes. The team will refine the AI models and validate the tool across different lesion types to improve accuracy and reduce unnecessary scalpel biopsies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable earlier, less-invasive detection of precancerous changes and early oral cancers, leading to timelier treatment and fewer unnecessary biopsies.
How similar studies have gone: Early work on AI-assisted cytology and point-of-care cell imaging is promising but this chip-based approach is a newer technology that still needs clinical validation.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdevitt, John T — New York University
- Study coordinator: Mcdevitt, John T
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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.