Integrated molecular testing for advanced, rare, and childhood cancers
Integrative Multiomics and Clinical Laboratory Translation for Advanced, Rare, and Pediatric Cancers
This project combines new DNA, RNA, epigenetic, and protein tests to give clearer diagnostic and treatment information for people with advanced, rare, or childhood cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11181628 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have an advanced, rare, or childhood cancer, this project will combine tumor and matched normal samples to look across DNA, RNA, protein, and epigenetic marks for a fuller molecular picture. The team is adding long‑read and methylation sequencing (Oxford Nanopore) to the lab’s existing short‑read tests and running the work in a CLIA-certified clinical lab so results can be reported to doctors. They are building faster bioinformatics pipelines to return clinically usable reports more quickly. These methods will be applied to patient groups in the Mi-OncoSeq program to help improve diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment choices.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with advanced, rare, or pediatric cancers who can provide tumor and matched normal samples and who are treated at or referred to the University of Michigan or participating clinics.
Not a fit: Patients without available tumor or matched normal samples, or those who cannot be linked to the CLIA lab for reporting, may not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could help doctors make more accurate diagnoses, find actionable mutations, and select better-targeted treatments for patients with hard-to-diagnose or treatment-resistant cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Related precision oncology programs have improved diagnosis and treatment decisions for some patients, but integrating long‑read and methylation sequencing into routine clinical reporting is a more recent and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Robinson, Dan Russel — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Robinson, Dan Russel
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.