# Precompetitive Collaboration on Liquid Biopsy for Early Cancer Assessment: Data Management and Coordinating Unit

> **NIH NIH U24** · FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER · 2024 · $752,400

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Liquid biopsy is a clinical test that involves the analysis of various biomarkers present in the blood or other
types of body fluids. It enables the detection of cancer at an earlier stage than traditional imaging or tissue
biopsy methods, and thus can lead to reduction of cancer mobility and mortality. As one of the most promising
solutions for cancer early detection, liquid biopsy has the potential to revolutionize cancer diagnosis, providing
patients with more effective and less invasive care. The liquid biopsy analytes include circulating tumor cells
(CTCs), circulating tumor DNA, which is part of cell-free DNA (cfDNA), extracellular vesicles, as well other
tumor associated RNAs, proteins and metabolites. These analytes typically have very low levels in blood or
other types of body fluid of early-stage cancer patients, leading to difficulties in obtaining reproducible results
and low sensitivity and specificity for cancer early detection. While many new assays and techniques have
been developed to tackle these challenges, validation of these assays/techniques in different populations
and/or cancer types poses many challenges, and these are the main areas of research supported by the liquid
biopsy consortium (LBC). As Data Management and Coordinating Unit (DMCU) of LBC, we will support state-
of-the-art statistical methods for study design and data analysis, the coordination, implementation, and conduct
of collaborative studies across the consortium and work closely with LBC investigators on data analysis by
statistical methods, machine Learning modeling and Artificial Intelligence. We will also support consortium
coordination and data management, including identification and adoption of standard data elements for liquid
biopsy studies. We seek to establish the DMCU as a leading center for innovation and resources in liquid
biopsy research, and to enhance, improve and maintain LBC network integration and coordination.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10933531
- **Project number:** 5U24CA288185-02
- **Recipient organization:** FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Wei Sun
- **Activity code:** U24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $752,400
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-22 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10933531

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10933531, Precompetitive Collaboration on Liquid Biopsy for Early Cancer Assessment: Data Management and Coordinating Unit (5U24CA288185-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10933531. Licensed CC0.

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