2026-27 Team Science Grantees: Dipanjan Chowdhury, PhD & Kevin Elias, MD

About Project

Integrated MicroRNA-Based Early Detection and Risk Stratification for Ovarian Cancer

PROJECT SUMMARY

There are currently no reliable ways to screen for ovarian cancer, and most women who develop the disease do not have known genetic risk factors like BRCA mutations. As a result, many cases go undetected until symptoms appear, and the cancer has spread well beyond the ovaries. This research project, led by experts at Cleveland Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the University of Pennsylvania, aims to develop a simple blood test that can do two critical things: 1) detect ovarian cancer early; and 2) identify women who are at increased risk of developing it in the future. The test analyzes small molecules in the blood called microRNAs (miRNAs ), which change in response to both inherited risk and early cancer development-even before symptoms arise.
The investigators have already developed a version of this test that can detect early-stage ovarian cancer with over 96% accuracy. Now, they will expand their ongoing study of the test to 2,000 women at higher risk for ovarian cancer and track changes in their blood samples over time. This will help determine how early the test can detect cancer and whether certain miRNA patterns can reveal a person’s hidden risk-even if genetic testing does not.
By combining early detection and risk prediction into one test, this approach could make ovarian cancer screening more accurate, accessible, and personalized-potentially saving lives through earlier diagnosis and better prevention strategies.

To learn more about Dr. Chowdhury’s and Dr. Elias’ work, click here. The MiDe Study (MicroRNA Detection Study) website is now live and enrolling participants at high-risk of ovarian cancer.