Blood tests to detect and predict lung cancer
Biomarker Development Laboratory
The project looks for bacterial DNA, human gene signals, and small molecules in blood to help detect and predict outcomes for people with early non-small cell lung cancer.
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 ID | NIH-11325345 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze blood samples from people with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer and from people without cancer using archived cohorts from NYU. They will use shotgun metagenomic sequencing to find microbial DNA in plasma, measure host transcriptomic signals from airway- or blood-derived samples, and profile metabolites to capture chemical changes. Machine-learning methods will combine microbial, host, and metabolite features to create biomarker signatures that indicate diagnosis or risk of recurrence. The goal is to develop blood-based tests that could someday help detect lung cancer earlier and guide follow-up care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer or matched control participants who can provide blood samples or whose archived samples are available for analysis.
Not a fit: People with cancers other than non-small cell lung cancer or those without access to NYU-affiliated sample collection may not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to blood tests that find early-stage lung cancer and predict recurrence, allowing earlier treatment and closer monitoring.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary data and other recent studies have shown promising microbial and host genomic signals for lung cancer, but combining metagenomics with metabolomics for blood-based prediction is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- 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
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.