# Orphan Non-coding RNA-based Test for Detecting Minimal Residual Disease in Resectable Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

> **NIH NIH R44** · EXAI BIO, INC. · 2024 · $1,280,908

## Abstract

The early detection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an unmet challenge in the
field with significant direct impact on effectiveness of treatments and survival rate of
affected patients. The emergence of neoadjuvant therapies and the challenges
associated with detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) in NSCLC patients
necessitates the development of new diagnostic tests that can help physicians tailor
appropriate therapeutic regimens to the individual patient and detect MRD early to
improve patient outcomes. Previously, Exai Bio has discovered a new class of small
RNAs that are mainly expressed in the tumor tissues, denoted as orphan noncoding
RNAs (oncRNAs). Moreover, Exai Bio has shown that oncRNAs are promising
biomarkers for early cancer detection, using blood as part of a novel liquid biopsy
technique. We have recently developed a novel assay and an artificial intelligence (AI)
model for early detection of lung cancer and predicting the subtypes using oncRNA
profiles. We have shown in a small, retrospective cohort that this new assay has a
higher sensitivity than state-of-the-art approaches available or published. As part of this
project we will work closely with outside collaborators to gather samples and test the
performance of this new assay for detection of MRD in NSCLC patients and to identify
its subtypes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11008417
- **Project number:** 1R44CA291369-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** EXAI BIO, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Babak Behsaz
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,280,908
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-12 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11008417

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11008417, Orphan Non-coding RNA-based Test for Detecting Minimal Residual Disease in Resectable Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (1R44CA291369-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11008417. Licensed CC0.

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