Johns Hopkins researchers reported an AI‑driven fragmentomics liquid biopsy that identifies liver fibrosis and cirrhosis from genome‑wide cell‑free DNA (cfDNA) fragmentation patterns. The team demonstrated the method's ability to detect organ‑specific genome packaging changes and immune‑related signals in blood, expanding cfDNA utility beyond tumor detection. A companion study from the same group translated fragmentomic signatures into a prototype diagnostic that distinguished chronic liver disease from controls and suggested broader applicability for noncancer chronic conditions. Developers and diagnostics investors view fragmentomics as a platform to deliver scalable, noninvasive tests for organ‑level pathology that could displace or triage invasive biopsies.
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