UCLA researchers developed MethylScan, a low-cost, single-sample blood test using targeted DNA methylation sequencing of cell-free DNA to detect multiple cancers and other conditions. In early studies involving more than 1,000 people, the assay showed promise for simultaneous disease signal detection. The approach uses cfDNA methylation patterns, which differ by tissue type and shift with cancer or disease processes—rather than focusing only on mutation detection. The work is published in PNAS, with lead author Jasmine Zhou describing the goal of earlier detection and broader health monitoring. If validated at scale, MethylScan could improve access by reducing sequencing depth requirements compared with some mutation-focused liquid biopsy strategies, potentially supporting wider screening and surveillance.