Finding early signs of pancreatic cancer and high-risk growths
Official title: Development of a panel of multiplex biomarkers for the early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and high-risk lesions
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11089571 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work aims to discover new blood tests that can find pancreatic cancer and precancerous growths at their earliest stages, especially for people at higher risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 19, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $809,563 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA274514-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11089571 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future applications of this research would be individuals at high risk for pancreatic cancer or those with known precancerous lesions like IPMN and MCN.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have risk factors for pancreatic cancer or existing precancerous lesions may not directly benefit from this specific early detection method.
What this research studies
Pancreatic cancer is often found late, making it very hard to treat. This project seeks to change that by developing new blood tests that can spot the disease much earlier. Researchers plan to identify specific markers in the blood that signal the presence of early-stage pancreatic cancer or high-risk growths like IPMN and MCN. The goal is to create a two-step process: first, identify individuals who are at high risk for pancreatic cancer, and then use these new blood tests to regularly check them for any rising signs of the disease. This approach could help doctors intervene sooner, when treatments are most effective.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new blood tests that allow for the early detection of pancreatic cancer, potentially improving treatment outcomes and survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: While the concept of using biomarkers for early detection is explored in other areas, this specific two-step surveillance approach with a new panel of multiplex biomarkers for pancreatic cancer is a novel strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chan, Daniel Wanyui — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Chan, Daniel Wanyui
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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.