Blood-based markers to identify lung cancer risk in never-smokers
Official title: Validation of blood-based biomarkers for risk assessment of lung cancer among individuals with no smoking history in the PLCO Cohort
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11623223 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researchers team at NYU School of Medicine is testing blood tests that might flag higher lung cancer risk in people who have never smoked, helping decide who might need screening.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| 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 | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $542,620 |
| NIH project number | 7U01CA295902-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11623223 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with no history of smoking who are part of the PLCO cohort or similar populations.
✕Less likely to help
People with a history of smoking or those at very low risk may not benefit from this biomarker approach.
What this research studies
This project builds on prior work with blood biomarkers to predict lung cancer risk. It tests how well a 4-protein panel (4MP) and a 4-metabolite panel (4MetP) predict 1-year lung cancer risk in people with no smoking history, especially when used alongside clinical risk factors. The goal is to improve early detection while avoiding overdiagnosis from broad screening. The study uses data from the PLCO cohort to validate these biomarkers in a real-world, never-smoker population. If successful, it could lead to personalized, blood-based risk assessments that inform screening decisions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to a simple blood test to identify never-smokers at higher risk who might benefit from targeted lung cancer screening.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has validated a 4-protein panel for lung cancer risk, and this project extends validation to never-smokers with a similar biomarker approach.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ostrin, Edwin Justin — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Ostrin, Edwin Justin
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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.