Improving early detection of ovarian cancer using advanced technology
Official title: Expanding early cancer detection with high throughput OCEANA - Ovarian Cancer Exosome Analysis with Nanoplasmonic Array
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10931699 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for ways to find ovarian cancer earlier by examining tiny particles in the blood, and if you join, you could help create better tests that might catch this aggressive cancer sooner.
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 start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $894,161 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA284982-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10931699 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include women at high risk for ovarian cancer, particularly those with a family history or genetic predispositions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with benign ovarian conditions or those who do not have ovarian cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the early detection of ovarian cancer, particularly its most aggressive form, high-grade serous ovarian cancer. By analyzing extracellular vesicles (EVs) released into the bloodstream, the study aims to develop a high-throughput platform called OCEANA that can capture and analyze these vesicles for diagnostic purposes. The approach involves creating a specialized panel of EV markers and validating these through patient-derived samples, which could provide crucial insights into tumor presence and progression. Patients participating in this research may contribute to the development of more effective screening methods that could lead to earlier interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve early detection rates of ovarian cancer, leading to better treatment outcomes and survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using extracellular vesicles for cancer diagnostics, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in early detection.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Hakho — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Lee, Hakho
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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.