Creating a new chip to study cancer spread using blood samples
Official title: Development of Next-Generation Blood-to-barcode (B2B) chip for In Vivo CRISPR-Based Discovery of Metastasis Regulators
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11032730 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for patients to help test a new blood test that uses advanced technology to find out how cancer spreads in the body, which could lead to better treatments for stopping it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | February 7, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $563,324 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA277507-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11032730 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include cancer patients, particularly those with metastatic disease or those at risk of metastasis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those whose cancer is not expected to metastasize may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing an innovative blood-to-barcode chip that utilizes CRISPR technology to identify genetic factors involved in cancer metastasis. By analyzing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) found in the bloodstream, the project aims to uncover the genetic programs that drive cancer spread, which is a major cause of cancer-related deaths. The approach involves capturing these rare cells and amplifying their genetic material for detailed analysis, providing insights that could lead to new anti-metastatic therapies. Patients may have the opportunity to contribute blood samples to help advance this important work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new treatments that specifically target and inhibit cancer metastasis, improving survival rates for patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of CRISPR technology in cancer research is gaining traction, this specific approach utilizing a blood-to-barcode chip for CTC analysis is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kelley, Shana O — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Kelley, Shana O
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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.