Bladder cancer risk fingerprint to predict aggressive disease
Official title: Project 3
Funded at Methodist Hospital Research Institute · NIH-11418392 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project from a major medical center is exploring a urine-based biomarker fingerprint to identify bladder cancer at high risk of becoming more aggressive before it shows up in symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $429,037 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA274375-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418392 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with early bladder lesions (NMIBC) or those at risk for progression who could benefit from improved risk stratification.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-progressive bladder cancer or those not seeking biomarker-driven risk assessment may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Bladder cancer is a common, potentially serious cancer. This project aims to uncover biological signals in early bladder lesions that predict which cases will become more dangerous, using non-invasive urine tests. If successful, these biomarkers could help doctors stratify risk and guide earlier, more tailored treatment decisions. The work builds on three linked projects to understand mechanisms and translate findings into a practical biomarker platform.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the fingerprint is validated, patients could receive faster, more personalized risk assessment through a simple urine test.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show promise for non-invasive urine biomarkers, but robust risk-stratification tools remain an unmet need.
Where this research is happening
-
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Furuya, Hideki — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Furuya, Hideki
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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.