DACH1-based test to predict therapy response in advanced prostate cancer
Official title: Developing a DACH1 specific detection assay that predicts therapy response in advanced prostate cancer.
Funded at Ecogenome LLC · NIH-11407343 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new test using DACH1 and other markers on prostate cancer tissue aims to predict which patients will respond to therapy and guide clinical trials.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ecogenome LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Doylestown, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $399,105 |
| NIH project number | 1R43CA314595-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11407343 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men with advanced or metastatic prostate cancer who may undergo biopsy or have available tissue/liquid biopsy samples for testing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to tissue samples or whose cancer biology does not align with the DACH1 signature may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports validating a DACH1 signature as a biomarker to tailor treatment for prostate cancer. Researchers will use multiplex staining on tumor tissue and liquid biopsies to build an algorithm that predicts who will benefit from specific treatments. The work is designed to serve as a companion diagnostic for clinical trials and chosen therapies in metastatic and recurrent disease. The project leverages EcoGenome technology to translate tissue findings into a practical clinical assay. Phase I aims to establish the biomarker's utility with available clinical outcomes to inform future studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more personalized therapy planning and avoid ineffective treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in biomarker-driven companion diagnostics has shown promise in guiding therapy decisions in prostate cancer, but this specific DACH1-based approach is novel and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Ecogenome LLC
Doylestown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Zhiping — Ecogenome LLC
- Study coordinator: Li, Zhiping
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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.