An at-home cheek swab test for early lung cancer detection
Official title: Translating buccal nanocytology for lung cancer screening into clinical practice
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11168931 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to create an easy at-home cheek swab test that can find early signs of lung cancer, especially for people who might not qualify for traditional CT scans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 15, 2018 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $667,591 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA225002-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11168931 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this type of screening would include individuals at risk for lung cancer, such as current or former smokers, or those with other risk factors, who may not qualify for current CT screening guidelines.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have already been diagnosed with lung cancer or who are not at risk for the disease would likely not receive direct benefit from this screening test.
What this research studies
This project is developing a new at-home test for lung cancer screening using a simple cheek swab. It looks for tiny changes in the cells from your cheek, which can signal early-stage lung cancer. This method is designed to be practical and sensitive enough to detect cancer regardless of its size, offering a way to catch the disease earlier when treatments are most effective. The goal is to help identify individuals at risk who can then receive further follow-up, like a CT scan. This could potentially help many people who currently do not qualify for standard lung cancer screening.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this test could provide a convenient and accessible way to screen for early-stage lung cancer, potentially saving lives by allowing for earlier treatment.
How similar studies have gone: This approach is described as a new method leveraging specific biological markers, building on prior findings about chromatin alterations but presenting a novel application for lung cancer screening.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Backman, Vadim — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Backman, Vadim
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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.