MasSpec Pen helps surgeons quickly check lung cancer during surgery
Official title: Validation and Translation of MasSpec Pen Technology for Intraoperative Evaluation of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11330406 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new device called MasSpec Pen may help surgeons rapidly and safely determine if a lung nodule is cancerous and whether margins are clean during lung cancer operations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | June 2, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $603,483 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA284742-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330406 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults undergoing surgery for suspected non-small cell lung cancer who need intraoperative diagnosis and margin assessment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing surgery or with cancers other than NSCLC may not benefit from this technology.
What this research studies
This project focuses on using the MasSpec Pen technology in the operating room to diagnose non-small cell lung cancer in real time and to assess surgical margins. The goal is to give surgeons fast, accurate information so they can make immediate decisions about how much tissue to remove. Patients could benefit from shorter surgery times, fewer unnecessary removals, and potentially better outcomes after lung cancer surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could shorten operations and improve accuracy of tumor removal for lung cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work with MasSpec Pen has shown promise for rapid cancer diagnosis in the operating room, but broader validation is needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schiavinato Eberlin, Livia — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Schiavinato Eberlin, Livia
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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.