High-throughput exosome blood test to find ovarian cancer early
Expanding early cancer detection with high throughput OCEANA - Ovarian Cancer Exosome Analysis with Nanoplasmonic Array
This project is building an automated blood test that reads tiny particles called exosomes to detect ovarian cancer, especially its most aggressive form, earlier than current methods.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11182709 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing an automated platform called OCEANA that captures tiny vesicles (exosomes) released by cells into the blood to look for signs of ovarian cancer. They will combine a panel of exosome markers with a high-throughput cartridge to make testing faster and more reliable. The team will test the approach using samples from a gynecologic biorepository and patient-derived organoids that represent benign, early, and advanced disease. The goal is a practical blood-based tool that could spot high-grade serous ovarian cancer sooner than existing approaches.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who can provide blood (or related fluid) samples across the clinical spectrum, especially women at higher risk for ovarian cancer or those with suspicious findings who agree to sample collection.
Not a fit: People without ovarian disease, those unwilling to provide samples, or those unable to travel to participating sites are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow earlier and more accurate detection of high-grade serous ovarian cancer from a blood sample, potentially enabling timelier treatment and better outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Early pilot work on exosome-based cancer tests has shown promise, but exosome diagnostics for ovarian cancer remain experimental and need larger clinical validation.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Hakho — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Lee, Hakho
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.