Blood-based EFIRM test to help clarify small lung nodules
EFIRM Liquid Biopsy Research Laboratory: Early Lung Cancer Assessment
This project develops a blood test using EFIRM technology to detect early lung cancer in people with small indeterminate lung nodules found on CT scans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180269 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to improve liquid biopsy methods to tell whether a small lung nodule seen on CT is cancerous. Researchers will discover and validate cancer-specific molecular markers in blood and refine EFIRM technology to detect very small amounts of tumor-derived material. The work focuses on indeterminate pulmonary nodules under 30 mm found during lung screening or incidentally. The team hopes to reduce unnecessary invasive procedures by distinguishing benign from malignant nodules earlier.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with indeterminate pulmonary nodules under about 30 mm discovered on low-dose CT screening or found incidentally would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without lung nodules or whose nodules are already clearly benign or already definitively diagnosed by standard care are unlikely to benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the test could reduce unnecessary biopsies and speed accurate diagnosis for people with small lung nodules.
How similar studies have performed: Other liquid biopsy approaches have shown promise in advanced cancers but detecting very early-stage nodules remains challenging, making this approach relatively novel for early detection.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wong, David T — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Wong, David T
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.