Blood-based EFIRM test to help clarify small lung nodules
Official title: EFIRM Liquid Biopsy Research Laboratory: Early Lung Cancer Assessment
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11180269 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | September 13, 2018 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,745,735 |
| NIH project number | 4U01CA233370-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180269 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with indeterminate pulmonary nodules under about 30 mm discovered on low-dose CT screening or found incidentally would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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
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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.