Coordinating center for developing blood tests that detect cancer early
Administrative Core
Teams at three major cancer centers are building and validating blood tests that look for DNA methylation changes to find cancer earlier in people at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11164632 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This program brings together investigators at three NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers to discover and verify cancer-specific DNA methylation signals in blood. Labs will analyze blood samples to identify promising markers, then run multi-site validation to confirm the markers work consistently across centers. An administrative core coordinates data sharing, quality control, and communication so the different labs and NCI programs stay aligned. The goal is to move successful markers through the steps needed to become a reliable clinic-ready blood test.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who might be eligible include those at higher risk for certain cancers and patients or volunteers willing to donate blood samples for biomarker research, including early-stage cancer patients and healthy controls.
Not a fit: Patients who need immediate treatment decisions or whose cancers do not release detectable DNA methylation signals into the blood may not receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce a simple blood test that detects cancers earlier, potentially improving treatment options and outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Other groups have shown that blood DNA methylation can signal multiple cancers and these approaches are promising, but wider clinical validation and standardization are still needed.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Herman, James G. — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Herman, James G.
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.