Dual-Platform Test for Early Lung Cancer Detection in African Americans
Official title: Dual-Platform Plasma Assay for Early Lung Cancer Detection in African Americans
Funded at Biotarget Dx LLC · NIH-11329410 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, non-invasive test using FirePlex and CRISPR-ELISA technologies aims to detect lung cancer earlier in African American people using blood samples.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Biotarget Dx LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanover, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $295,924 |
| NIH project number | 1R43MD021361-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11329410 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are African American adults who are at risk for lung cancer or who have a history that makes early detection especially important.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without lung cancer or at very low risk may not benefit from this diagnostic test at this stage.
What this research studies
This project combines two cutting-edge platforms to measure ethnicity-specific biomarkers in blood for early lung cancer detection. It will optimize and validate the combined test, then evaluate its diagnostic performance on archived samples from African American and White Americans with and without lung cancer. The goal is a rapid, affordable screening tool that could be used in community settings to catch cancer earlier and reduce disparities. As an SBIR Phase I effort, the project focuses on analytical sensitivity, specificity, and real-world applicability in AA populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the test could enable earlier diagnosis and better survival for African Americans at risk of lung cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show promise for biomarker-based lung cancer detection, but this approach is novel in combining ethnicity-specific ncRNAs and cytokines on two platforms.
Where this research is happening
-
Biotarget Dx LLC
Hanover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jiang, Feng — Biotarget Dx LLC
- Study coordinator: Jiang, Feng
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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.