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Diagnostic Biomarkers and Technology Branch (DBTB)

Supporting research to advance biomarkers and technological tools for research and clinical decision making. 

Program Directors in the Diagnostic Biomarkers and Technology Branch (DBTB) of the Cancer Diagnosis Program (CDP) stimulate and support research to develop new biomarkers, diagnostic strategies, models, innovative technologies, and improved devices. These advancements contribute to better tools for research and clinical decision making.

Research Areas

  • Cancer Biology Integration: Incorporating new knowledge from cancer biology and tumor-host interactions into cancer diagnosis research.
  • Innovative Technology Development: Developing innovative technologies and devices for use in cancer diagnostics, prognostics and prediction.
  • Biomarker Platforms: Integrating and applying results from biomarker research and technology development into novel platforms for cancer diagnosis.
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Developing and implementing AI, machine learning models, and neural networks  for analysis of high dimensional data applied to cancer diagnostics, prognostics and prediction.
  • Liquid Biopsy and Non-Invasive Techniques: Supporting technologies for analyzing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), proteins, extracellular vesicles, and other analytes for cancer diagnosis and treatment. 

Selected Initiatives

Highlighted Recent Supported Projects

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionProject
Brian Cunningham, Ph.D.University of IllinoisRapid, simple, and ultrasensitive quantitation of KRAS ctDNA at the point of care using CRISPR/Cas amplification and digital resolution biosensor microscopy
David Issadore, Ph.D.University of PennsylvaniaHigh Throughput Digital Droplet Assays for Ultrasensitive Multimodal (DNA, RNA, and Protein) Diagnostics
Dan Landau, M.D., Ph.D.Weill Medical College of Cornell UniversityGenome-wide mutational integration for ultra-sensitive plasma tumor burden monitoring in immunotherapy
Periannan Kuppusamy, Ph.D.Dartmouth CollegeEPR scanner for tumor oximetry in the clinic
Richard Levenson, M.D.University of California, DavisCoreView and FIBI for rapid-onsite evaluation and molecular profiling of core-needle breast biopsies

Workshops

  1. Workshop: Transformative Microsystem Technologies for Cancer Diagnostics, Monitoring Treatment Response, and Management Workshop 2025.
  2. Workshop: ctDNA in Cancer Treatment and Clinical Care (Sept. 14-15, 2023). Paper: NCI workshop on ctDNA in cancer treatment and clinical care
  3. Workshop: Circulating Tumor DNA Assays in Clinical Cancer Research (Sept. 29-30, 2016). Paper: Circulating Tumor DNA Assays in Clinical Cancer Research

Seminar Series

The DCTD Technology Seminar Series launched in 2025 in collaboration with multiple programs in DCTD, as a continuation of the previous 2024 CDP hosted Technology Seminar Series.

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