PCR-free test to accurately measure microRNAs
Official title: PCR-free UPLC-MS/MS based quantitative assay of microRNAs
Funded at Jackson State University · NIH-11082199 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is developing a PCR-free lab test to accurately measure tiny amounts of microRNAs in patient samples to help validate microRNA biomarkers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jackson State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jackson, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $151,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM145223-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11082199 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with conditions where microRNAs are suspected markers—such as certain cancers, neurological disorders, or cardiovascular disease—or volunteers able to provide blood or tissue samples.
✕Less likely to help
People without conditions linked to microRNA changes, or those unwilling to provide samples, are unlikely to benefit directly from this assay development.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team aims to build a lab test that counts specific microRNAs in blood or tissue without using PCR by combining magnetic affinity extraction with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The goal is to produce absolute numbers rather than relative signals, making results more repeatable and lowering per-test costs. That could help researchers confirm which microRNA patterns reliably indicate disease. Early work will be done at Jackson State University on collected biological samples and could later support clinical testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable cheaper, more reliable microRNA tests to help diagnose or monitor diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Many studies have reported microRNA biomarker candidates but none have been fully validated for clinical use, so this PCR-free absolute-quantification approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Jackson State University
Jackson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Yiming — Jackson State University
- Study coordinator: Liu, Yiming
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.