Early pancreatic cancer detection using tiny blood particles and advanced protein imaging
Application of 4D proteomics and super-resolution microscopy in extracellular vesicle and particle-borne biomarker discovery for early pancreatic cancer detection
Using very sensitive protein detection and super-resolution imaging of tiny particles in blood to spot pancreatic cancer earlier in people at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158669 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will isolate extracellular vesicles and particles (tiny packages released by cells) from blood plasma and tumor tissue to look for cancer-related proteins. They will use AF4 fractionation to purify EVP subtypes, then apply high-sensitivity timsTOF 4D mass spectrometry to profile proteins and dSTORM super-resolution imaging to visualize single particles. A photocatalytic proximity-labeling method (µMap) will help link proteins to their original particles, and candidate biomarkers will be validated across samples. The goal is to produce reliable circulating protein markers that could be developed into an early detection blood test for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would include adults providing blood plasma or tumor tissue samples, especially people at high risk for pancreatic cancer or those with early or suspected pancreatic tumors.
Not a fit: People without pancreatic disease or those with late-stage, widely metastatic pancreatic cancer may not see direct benefit from early-detection biomarkers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a blood-based biomarker panel that detects pancreatic cancer earlier, potentially enabling earlier treatment and better outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work shows extracellular vesicles can carry cancer signals but past methods lacked sensitivity and purity, and combining AF4 purification, timsTOF 4D proteomics, dSTORM imaging, and µMap is a largely novel, more sensitive approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lyden, David Charles — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Lyden, David Charles
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.