Research
The Elias Laboratory is a collaborative team dedicated to advancing translational ovarian cancer research through a range of disciplines spanning applied mathematics, nanotechnology, and tissue engineering. We value inclusivity, unique ideas, and novel approaches. Our shared goal is to improve the lives of individuals affected by gynecologic disease.
Dr. Kevin Elias is a physician-scientist whose research focuses on finding better ways to detect ovarian cancer early, when it is most treatable. He serves as the Lilli and Seth Harris Endowed Chair for Ovarian Cancer Research at the Cleveland Clinic and holds academic appointments in Gynecologic Oncology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Elias’s research focuses on translational approaches to women's cancers, particularly the development of novel diagnostic tools using circulating microRNAs, artificial intelligence-assisted imaging, and nanotechnology. His work integrates molecular biology, clinical trial design, and advanced analytics to improve outcomes for women with or at risk for gynecologic malignancies. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and is recognized for his leadership in collaborative, multidisciplinary cancer research.
Biography
Dr. Kevin Elias, MD, FACOG, FACS earned his undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Harvard University and his medical degree with Alpha Omega Alpha honors from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute NIH Research Scholar in Bethesda, MD. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital-Massachusetts General Hospital Integrated Residency Program. He furthered his training with fellowships in Gynecologic Oncology and Anesthesia Critical Care Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Additionally, he conducted postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Dr. Ronny Drapkin at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and at the Koch Institute at MIT in the laboratory of Professor Paula Hammond, focusing on nanotechnology applications in cancer therapy through a K12 award from the Reproductive Scientist Development Program. Dr. Elias seved as the Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Laboratory at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School until 2024, when he was recruited to Cleveland Clinic to fill the Lilli and Seth Harris Endowed Chair for Ovarian Cancer Research. His research interests center on the early detection and prevention of gynecologic cancers, particularly ovarian cancer. Dr. Elias employs advanced techniques such as blood-based microRNA biomarkers and artificial intelligence to identify at-risk individuals and improve diagnostic accuracy. He also investigates the cellular biology of ovarian cancer and develops nanoparticle-based diagnostics and therapies. Clinically, Dr. Elias is an expert in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols and gestational trophoblastic disease, a rare but highly treatable cancer affecting women post-pregnancy. He is the founding director of the Cleveland Clinic's Comprehensive Trophoblastic Disease program, the first new reference center for this condition in the United States in more than 60 years. He has served as President of ERAS USA, a national organization dedicated to optimizing surgical recovery, as well as on the Editorial Board of Gynecologic Oncology. Dr. Elias holds active board certifications in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology and provides the full spectrum of medical and surgical gynecologic cancer care.Education & Professional Highlights
Appointed2024
Education & FellowshipsFellowship - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Gynecologic Oncology
Boston, MA United States
2016
Fellowship - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Anesthesia Critical Care Medicine
Boston, United States
2013
Residency - Brigham and Women's Hospital - Massachusetts General Hospital Integrated Residency Program
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Boston, United States
2012
Internship - Brigham and Women's Hospital - Massachusetts General Hospital Integrated Residency Program
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Boston, MA United States
2009
Medical Education - Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Nashville, TN United States
2008
Undergraduate - Harvard College
History and Science
Cambridge, MA United States
2003
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Critical Care Medicine
Research
Active Research Projects
Accomplishments to Date- Circulating miRNA as Dual Biomarkers: Dr. Elias’s lab developed serum microRNA (miRNA) classifiers capable of both detecting early-stage ovarian cancer and identifying women with inherited predisposition, including those without known family history of ovarian cancer. These miRNA signatures are robust across racial, socioeconomic, and clinical covariates.
- BRCAness Classifier: Using machine learning, Elias's team identified a serum miRNA phenotype—“BRCAness”—that reflects homologous recombination deficiency even in women without BRCA1/2 mutations. This classifier has shown high correlation with 5-year ovarian cancer risk in samples collected from randomized clinical trials.
- Clinical-Grade Diagnostic Assay (OvaInform): A digital droplet PCR-based assay combining 6 miRNAs and 4 protein biomarkers has achieved 98.1% sensitivity and 93.5% specificity for early-stage cancer diagnosis in validation cohorts. OvaInform is being commercially developed by Aspira Women’s Health.
- Prospective Validation (MiDe Study): With >800 high-risk women enrolled, the miRNA Detection (MiDe) study is the largest longitudinal biomarker studies of its kind, tracking miRNA changes over 5 years in real-world settings. www.midestudy.org
- Funding and Recognition: Dr. Elias is a PI on multiple foundation, industry, NIH, and philanthropic awards. He sits on the Editorial Board of Gynecologic Oncology, and his work has been published in Nature, Nature Communications, eLife, Lancet Oncology, and Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention.
Strategic Plan for Future Development1. MiDe Study Expansion: Expand MiDe to 2,000 participants to establish prospective validation of OvaInform’s diagnostic lead time and sensitivity for detecting precursor lesions for ovarian cancer.
2. The RADIANCE Study (Risk Assessment via Detection of Inherited and Acquired Non-BRCA Cancer prEdisposition): Implement the BRCAness classifier in high-risk populations lacking known germline mutations, including those with Lynch syndrome or unexplained familial clustering.
3. The EVOCR Trial (Epigenetic Variants in Ovarian Cancer Risk): An interventional trial using miRNAs to select ovarian cancer patients for PARP inhibitor therapy.
4. ORACLE (Ovarian Risk Assessment with Circulating miRNA and Learning-Enabled Ultrasound) - Through the ORACLE project, Elias leads a global AI consortium using transformer-based neural networks to interpret transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) and histopathology in parallel with miRNA profiles for early lesion detection.
5. Pioneer Novel Technologies: acoustic biosensors for real-time “molecular sonogenetic” detection of early tubal transformation; microneedle skin patches for home-based cancer surveillance; nanoparticles for cancer sensing and therapy.
VisionDr. Elias’s integrated approach—uniting molecular diagnostics, AI, and international collaboration—aims to shift ovarian cancer detection from reactive to proactive, enabling life-saving interventions before clinical symptoms emerge.
Our Team
Selected Publications
View publications for Kevin Elias, MD
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Select Recent Publications
Pappas TC, Roy Choudhury M, Chacko BK, Twiggs LB, Fritsche H, Elias KM, Phan RT. Neural network-derived multivariate index assay demonstrates effective clinical performance in longitudinal monitoring of ovarian cancer risk. Gynecol Oncol. 2024 Aug;187:21-29. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.04.020. Epub 2024 May 3. PMID: 38703674.
Wollborn L, Webber JW, Alimena S, Mishra S, Sussman CB, Comrie CE, Packard DG, Williams M, Russell T, Fendler W, Chowdhury D, Elias KM. Effects of clinical covariates on serum miRNA expression among women without ovarian cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2024 May 23. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-23-1355. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38780899.
Stawiski K, Fortner RT, Pestarino L, Umu SU, Kaaks R, Rounge TB, Elias KM, Fendler W, Langseth H. Validation of miRNA signatures for ovarian cancer earlier detection in the pre-diagnosis setting using machine learning approaches. Front Oncol. 2024 Jun 25;14:1389066. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1389066. PMID: 38983926; PMCID: PMC11231195.
Webber JW, Wollborn L, Mishra S, Vitonis AF, Cramer DW, Phan RT, Pappas TC, Stawiski K, Fendler W, Chowdhury D, Elias KM. Serum miRNA improves the accuracy of a multivariate index assay for triage of an adnexal mass. Gynecol Oncol. 2024 Aug 23;190:124-130. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.08.008. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39180961.
Young AN, Lin LH, Abel MK, Badhey MO, Lechner A, Horowitz NS, Berkowitz RS, Parra-Herran C, Elias KM. Atypical placental site nodules: Clinicopathologic features, management and patient outcomes in an institutional series. Gynecol Oncol. 2024 Sep 4;190:215-221. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.08.018. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39236483.