AI-powered urine test to detect bladder cancer from shed bladder cells
Noninvasive bladder cancer diagnostics via machine learning analysis of nanoscale surface images of epithelial cells extracted from voided urine samples
['FUNDING_R01'] · TUFTS UNIVERSITY MEDFORD · NIH-11161161
An AI-based urine test will use tiny surface images of bladder cells shed in urine to find bladder cancer and how aggressive it is in people at risk or under surveillance.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | TUFTS UNIVERSITY MEDFORD (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11161161 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would provide a routine voided urine sample and lab staff would collect the bladder epithelial cells that naturally slough off. Those individual cells are imaged at very high resolution to capture nanoscale surface features. Computer algorithms (machine learning) are trained to recognize patterns in those images that link to cancer presence and tumor grade. The team aims to make a fast, objective, noninvasive test that could reduce the number of follow-up cystoscopies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults with a history of bladder cancer under surveillance, people with blood in the urine, or those at elevated risk for bladder cancer.
Not a fit: People who cannot provide voided urine samples, who have very low tumor cell shedding in urine, or who have non-bladder urinary tract cancers may not benefit from this test.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce the need for frequent invasive cystoscopy exams by providing an accurate, simple urine-based screening and monitoring option.
How similar studies have performed: Existing urine tests and cytology have had limited sensitivity and some AI approaches show promise, but combining nanoscale cell-surface imaging with machine learning is largely novel and experimental.
Where this research is happening
Boston, UNITED STATES
- TUFTS UNIVERSITY MEDFORD — Boston, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SOKOLOV, IGOR — TUFTS UNIVERSITY MEDFORD
- Study coordinator: SOKOLOV, IGOR
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.
Conditions: Bladder Cancer, Cancer Detection