Blood and airway microbe and gene tests to find and predict early non-small cell lung cancer
Official title: Microbial and host biomarker development for detection and prognosis of early stage non-small cell lung cancer
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11325339 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for microbial and host gene signals in blood and airway samples to help spot early non-small cell lung cancer and predict who might have the cancer come back.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | May 4, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,019,882 |
| NIH project number | 5U2CCA271890-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11325339 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with indeterminate lung nodules on imaging or patients who had surgery for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer and want information about recurrence risk.
✕Less likely to help
People without lung nodules, those with advanced or metastatic lung cancer, or those with non-NSCLC lung conditions are unlikely to benefit from this work.
What this research studies
I would provide blood and airway samples so researchers can search for microbial DNA and my own circulating RNA signals linked to early NSCLC. The team uses metagenomic sequencing and a NanoString RNA platform to identify microbial and host gene signatures in systemic circulation and lower airways. They will compare people with early-stage NSCLC to those with non-cancerous lung nodules to find markers that distinguish cancer from benign nodules and predict post-surgical recurrence. If these signatures are confirmed, they could be turned into less-invasive tests for diagnosis and follow-up.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these markers could reduce unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures and help predict which early-stage patients are at higher risk of recurrence.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data from this team and others have identified microbial and circulating RNA signatures linked to lung cancer diagnosis and prognosis, but these approaches remain experimental and are not yet standard clinical tests.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Segal, Leopoldo Nicolas — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Segal, Leopoldo Nicolas
Related research
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This study is working on a new test that looks at 7 specific genes to help predict if early-stage lung cancer might come back after surgery and to see if extra chemotherapy could be helpful for patients who have had surgery for stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer.
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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.