(Article posted 2015 and updated in 2016)
Patients with a condition known as lung nodules may soon be breathing a bit more easily, thanks to research funding granted to the University of California, Davis and a new diagnostic technology tested in a 2016 study at the Morehouse School of Medicine and Emory University. Lung nodules are usually benign, small lesions often found in CT chest scans. While only 2% of these nodules end up being cancerous, they still require examination and monitoring to ensure the safety of the patient.
In an effort to establish clear guidelines for physicians in treating lung nodule patients, two UC Davis researchers will assist in a major national study to improve surveillance practices for patients with small, low-cancer-risk lung nodules identified with CT imaging.As a major portion of the funding for this bioresearch, UC Davis was given a 5-year, $2.3 million grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) (2/2016). This funding was part of a $64M program to answer critical questions about cancer care, back pain and stroke.
Principal investigators on this project include Diana Miglioretti, UC Davis Dean’s professor in biostatistics and cancer center researcher, and Karen Kelly, professor of medicine.
“The goal at the end of the day is to have one clear guideline about how often these patients should be followed up with low-dose CT imaging,” Miglioretti said.
The research team will continue by studying 47 thousand patients with small lung nodules divided into two groups: those who will follow their patients with more surveillance using low-dose CT, i.e., at six, 12, and 24 months, and those who will provide less follow-up, i.e., at 12 and 24 months.
“At the conclusion of this study, we want to say one of these two surveillance programs – either the less intense or the more intense, is appropriate. We want to make sure that whichever approach is chosen, it will give us the optimal number of early-stage lung cancers, while reducing harms such as excess radiation exposure and benign biopsies.”
In addition to the ongoing studies at UC Davis, new methods of lung nodule detection and identification from Veran Medical are being developed, allowing researchers at Morehouse and Emory University to assess lung nodules more efficiently. Newer studies, published in The Internet Journal of Pulmonary Medicine, use Veran's new diagnostic tool, the SPiN Thoracic Navigation System, to locate and sample hard-to-reach lung nodules with a higher degree of precision using tiny electromagnetic sensors.
Past studies have shown that lung nodules move as a result of a patient coughing, moving, or simply breathing. This creates a moving target, causing great difficulty during surgical diagnostic procedures. Veran’s novel 4D dynamic respiratory technology gives physicians the ability to reach evasive lung nodules, even if a patient's lungs do not remain perfectly still during the procedure due to breathing or other movement.
Together, the Davis team and the Morehouse/Emory team are working to improve the lives of lung nodule sufferers by ensuring that they are diagnosed as early and acurately as possible.
In addition to research in the field of pulmonary medicine, scientists at UC Davis are currently making progress in the following areas:
Key research and funding Statistics from UC Davis:
UC Davis Research lab product suppliers are invited to exhibit thier products and to meet with UC Davis researchers to educate them about the newest lab technologies available. The upcoming 19th Annual BioResearch Product Faire™ will be held at The UC Davis Medical Center on January 18, 2017.
If you would like to exhibit life science products at this event, please click the button below:
UC Davis researchers and Davis area life science community members are invited to attend this event free of charge: For more information about attending this lab product event at a top medical research university, click below:
The 2017 Emory University Bioresearch Product Faire™ event is being held on 3/23/2017 and still has lab supplier exhibit space available.