# Core - Biomarker Development Laboratory (BDL)

> **NIH NIH U2C** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2022 · $356,762

## Abstract

As part of a Biomarker Characterization Center, the Biomarker Development Laboratory
will develop improved methods to detect DNA methylation changes for the early detection
of lung cancer. Led by Dr. James Herman and Dr. Tza-Huei Jeff Wang, a multidisciplinary
team of investigators will develop improved panels of DNA methylation alterations able to
detect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) changes in plasma, to determine the origin of
ctDNA from lung cancer or other common malignancies, and to continue improvements
in methylation detection methods to better detect the small amounts of ctDNA present in
plasma. This EDRN Biomarker Development Laboratory will use high quality,
prospectively collected biospecimens to develop highly sensitive, specific and
quantitative approaches for the detection of tumor-specific DNA methylation
abnormalities in plasma. These methods will be transferred to the Biomarker Reference
Laboratory to be standardized and tested for performance in a CLIA setting.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10486260
- **Project number:** 1U2CCA271885-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES G. HERMAN
- **Activity code:** U2C (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $356,762
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-16 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10486260

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10486260, Core - Biomarker Development Laboratory (BDL) (1U2CCA271885-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10486260. Licensed CC0.

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