AI-powered nanosensor test to detect ovarian cancer signals in tiny particles in blood
Machine Learning-enabled Classification of Extracellular Vesicles Using Nanoplasmonic Microfluidics
This project uses AI and a tiny sensor device to find ovarian cancer signals in cell particles from blood for people with or at risk of ovarian cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11191589 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will collect small samples of blood or other body fluids and use a microfluidic device to separate tiny cell-derived particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs). The device uses nanoplasmonic sensors to capture sensitive chemical fingerprints from single EVs using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Those fingerprints will be fed into machine learning tools to classify which EVs come from ovarian cancer cells and which do not. By separating EV subgroups before reading them, the team aims to better pick out rare cancer signals for earlier detection and improved monitoring.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include people with suspected ovarian cancer, those at higher genetic or family risk (for example BRCA carriers), and patients needing close monitoring after treatment.
Not a fit: People without ovarian cancer or without risk factors for it, and those seeking immediate treatment changes rather than diagnostic testing, may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a simple blood-based test that detects and tracks ovarian cancer earlier and more accurately.
How similar studies have performed: Early work indicates SERS plus machine learning can distinguish cancer-related EVs, but combining microfluidic EV separation with single-EV SERS and AI is novel and still experimental.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hisey, Colin Lee — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Hisey, Colin Lee
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 below.