National Mesothelioma Biobank expands patient biospecimen and data sharing for research
Official title: Continuation and Expansion of the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank for Translational Research (U24) - 2021
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11619061 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A national biobank collects blood, tissue, and clinical data from mesothelioma patients to help researchers develop better diagnostics and treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,084,522 |
| NIH project number | 6U24OH009077-19M001 |
| Project ID | NIH-11619061 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with mesothelioma who can contribute biospecimens and clinical data.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not participate or whose data are not used may not receive direct benefit.
What this research studies
If you have mesothelioma, this program collects your biospecimens and clinical information to share with researchers. The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank coordinates multiple sites to build a larger, diverse registry and to automate data annotation from health records. The goal is to grow the bank to 2,200 patients and expand geographic reach so researchers can study biomarkers, genomics, and imaging data. This is designed to speed translational research that could benefit future patients. The project will continually assess how useful the biobank is for advancing mesothelioma research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could accelerate discoveries leading to better tests and treatments for mesothelioma.
How similar studies have gone: Other biobanks have successfully accelerated mesothelioma research by providing well-annotated samples and data.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Becich, Michael John — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Becich, Michael John
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Intraperitoneal CAR T cells for peritoneal mesothelioma
A new approach uses CAR T cells delivered directly into the abdominal cavity to target mesothelioma, aiming to help people whose disease is confined to the abdomen.
-
Liquid multiomics to tailor systemic treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma
Researchers are testing liquid biomarkers to help choose personalized treatments for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
-
New ways to make mesothelioma treatment work better
This project looks at whether common antidepressant drugs plus a drug that blocks Mcl-1 can help chemotherapy work better for people with malignant mesothelioma.
-
Targeting mitochondria to help immunotherapy work better for pleural mesothelioma
The team will try medicines that change cancer cell mitochondria to help immunotherapy work better for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
-
Tumor-targeted imaging and alpha-particle therapy for mesothelioma
This project develops an antibody-based imaging approach and a targeted alpha-particle therapy to find and kill mesothelioma tumors, including hard-to-treat sarcomatoid cases.
-
Photofrin and heme oxygenase–boosting drugs for pleural mesothelioma
This work looks at whether Photofrin and drugs that boost heme oxygenase can slow tumor growth in people with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
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.