Lung cancer biomarker reference lab
Biomarker Reference Lab
This program builds reliable lab tests from blood, nasal samples, and scans to help detect and monitor lung cancer in people at risk or living with the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158698 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This lab works to make sure the biomarkers found for lung cancer can be reliably measured in real-world clinical labs using standardized CLIA procedures. Teams focus on specific marker types like nasal gene expression, circulating tumor cells, blood immune cells (PBMCs), and imaging features, and they partner with industry and UCLA imaging experts. The BRL checks sample and imaging quality from collection sites and gives feedback so samples and data are high quality. The goal is to turn promising marker signals into reproducible lab tests or refined algorithms that doctors could use to detect lung cancer earlier.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People at high risk for lung cancer or patients with suspected or confirmed lung cancer who can provide blood, nasal, or imaging samples are the most likely candidates to participate or benefit.
Not a fit: People without lung disease or those unable to provide the required biological samples or imaging would likely not benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could produce dependable clinical tests that detect lung cancer earlier and improve treatment decisions.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior biomarker efforts have shown promising signals, but turning those into CLIA-ready, reproducible clinical tests has been difficult and remains partly unproven.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Palazzolo, Michael J — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Palazzolo, Michael J
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.