# A Novel Strategy for Diagnosis of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.

> **NIH NIH R41** · CAPSULOMICS, LLC · 2020 · $250,764

## Abstract

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is one of two major types of esophageal cancer, which causes 509,000
deaths worldwide annually. EAC diagnosis is made using the invasive, expensive, risky, and not universally
accessible procedure, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Thus, there is a pressing need for easier, safer,
cheaper strategies for EAC diagnosis. Our novel strategy builds on exciting preliminary data in EAC patients
involves a swallowable, retrievable sponge capsule device combined with a DNA methylation biomarker panel
(JHU patent pending). Capsulomics, a new startup established specifically for this project, will commercialize
this diagnostic assay, termed “EsoSAVE,” for EAC detection.
 This Phase I STTR application contains three Specific Aims to implement this strategy. Aim 1 will optimize
and validate the EsophaCap DNA extraction procedure. Aim 2 will generate a multi-parameter statistical model
to further strengthen our promising methylation biomarkers. Aim 3 will validate the EsoSAVE test in sponge
samples from normal and EAC patients. These Aims will address important scientific questions while
simultaneously advancing the EsoSAVE diagnostic test toward commercial implementation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10009836
- **Project number:** 1R41CA250779-01
- **Recipient organization:** CAPSULOMICS, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Daniel Gregory Lunz
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $250,764
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-19 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10009836

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10009836, A Novel Strategy for Diagnosis of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma. (1R41CA250779-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10009836. Licensed CC0.

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