Core - Biomarker Development Laboratory (BDL)

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.