Sensor-based test for synovial sarcoma that detects SS18-SSX fusion mRNA and protein
Official title: Investigating the role of intercellular communication in synovial sarcoma progression using integrated nanopore sensing
Funded at University of California Santa Cruz · NIH-11327757 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly test is being developed to rapidly and precisely detect the SS18-SSX cancer hallmark in synovial sarcoma using a new nanopore sensing method.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Cruz NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Cruz, United States) |
| Project start | July 7, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $615,784 |
| NIH project number | 1R37CA310673-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11327757 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with suspected or confirmed synovial sarcoma or related cancers, with accessible blood samples for testing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without synovial sarcoma or without access to the testing workflow may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a highly sensitive, amplification- and label-free nanopore sensor that can detect the SS18-SSX fusion mRNA and the fusion protein in synovial sarcoma. The approach targets a key biomarker the disease relies on, with a focus on making detection faster and more reliable from blood samples. Researchers will validate the sensor’s performance and explore how the tool can facilitate understanding of how the cancer spreads and responds to treatments. If successful, this tech could improve diagnostic timeliness and enable better monitoring of disease progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from faster, more accurate diagnosis and better monitoring of synovial sarcoma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts to develop sensitive cancer diagnostics faced sensitivity challenges, but this project builds on nanopore sensing advances to enable dual mRNA/protein detection.
Where this research is happening
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University of California Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vaske, Olena Morozova — University of California Santa Cruz
- Study coordinator: Vaske, Olena Morozova
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targetable Epigenetic and Immuno-Oncologic Vulnerabilities in Synovial Sarcoma
A cancer research project at Sloan Kettering aims to find epigenetic and immune vulnerabilities in synovial sarcoma to guide future treatments.
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Finding drug and immune therapy targets for synovial sarcoma
This project looks for weaknesses in synovial sarcoma cells that new drugs or immune therapies could target for people with synovial sarcoma.
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Targeting a specific pathway to treat synovial sarcoma
This work explores a new way to stop synovial sarcoma, a type of cancer, by disrupting a process called SUMOylation.
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Disruption of a specific protein modification to treat synovial sarcoma
This study is exploring a new way to treat synovial sarcoma, a type of cancer that usually affects younger people, by using a special drug called TAK-981 to target a process that helps the cancer grow, with the hope of damaging the cancer cells and reducing tumors in mice.
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Finding treatment weaknesses in synovial sarcoma cancer cells
This study is looking at a type of cancer called synovial sarcoma to find out how certain genetic changes might make it more vulnerable to new treatments, especially by combining special therapies that target genes with those that help the immune system fight the cancer.
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Testing new therapies for pediatric and young adult sarcoma, kidney, and liver cancers
Researchers are testing new drugs and smart combinations in models of pediatric cancers to help guide future treatments for kids and young adults.
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.