Blood markers to predict colorectal cancer risk in African Americans
Official title: Development of blood-based methylation biomarkers for CRC risk prediction
Funded at Temple Univ of the Commonwealth · NIH-11401358 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying a blood test that uses DNA methylation patterns to identify people at higher risk for colorectal cancer, with a focus on African American communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $332,487 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA281948-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401358 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at risk for colorectal cancer, particularly African American individuals, who may participate in blood and tissue sampling for biomarker validation.
✕Less likely to help
People without elevated risk or those not contributing to biomarker validation may not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project looks at whether blood-based epigenetic markers can flag people who are more likely to develop colorectal cancer before it happens. Researchers have already found a pattern called Outlier Methylation Phenotype (OMP) that is associated with CRC and appears more often in African American patients. The team will compare OMPs in blood to those in colorectal tissue to see if a simple blood test can predict risk. If successful, this could lead to earlier detection and personalized prevention for high-risk groups. The work is conducted at Temple University with support from an NIH grant over several years.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the blood test is proven reliable, it could enable earlier, less invasive screening and help reduce disparities in colorectal cancer outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked OMP to colorectal cancer and shown promise for non-invasive prediction, though validation in blood is ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ghosh, Jayashri — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Ghosh, Jayashri
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.