Single blood test to find many cancers early
Multi-Cancer Early Detection and Screening (MED SCREEN) Study
This project offers adults 45–70 a one-time blood test that looks for signs of many different cancers to help find them earlier than usual care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11252884 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited to give a single blood sample that is tested for signals of multiple cancers using cell-free DNA and other biological markers, then followed through your regular Kaiser Permanente care. The project will start at 21 Kaiser medical centers in California and may expand to more sites, using electronic health records to track results, referrals, diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes. Study staff will link the blood-test findings with routine screening and any follow-up tests or procedures you receive. The goal is to learn how acceptable and practical this blood approach is across real-world medical centers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged about 45 to 70 who receive care at participating Kaiser Permanente medical centers and are eligible for routine cancer screening are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People younger than 45 or older than 70, those already diagnosed with cancer, or those who do not receive care at the participating Kaiser centers are unlikely to be eligible or benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the blood test could help find cancers earlier, which may lead to earlier treatment and better outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have performed: Commercial multi-cancer blood tests exist and early data are promising, but large multicenter screening studies like this are still limited and relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Oakland, UNITED STATES
- Kaiser Foundation Research Institute — Oakland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Jeffrey Kuang Zou — Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Lee, Jeffrey Kuang Zou
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.