Biomarker News and Research

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A biomarker is a biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease. A biomarker may be used to see how well the body responds to a treatment for a disease or condition. Also called molecular marker and signature molecule.

Gene linked to endometrial cancer identified

Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive tract, representing 6% of all cancers. There is currently no screening method or biomarker to indicate early presence of disease. "It is a very common malignancy that affects women of all ages" comments paper author Dr. Diego Castrillon. The cancer forms from the cells that grow along the inner lining of the uterus, which is called the endometrium, and usually it is diagnosed following patient reports of abnormal bleeding.

8 Feb 2010

HDC partners with New York surgery center to develop new molecular diagnostic tests for pancreatic cancer

Health Discovery Corporation announced today that the Company has entered into an exclusive agreement with the Pancreas, Biliary and Liver Surgery Center of New York at Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in New York City to develop new molecular diagnostic tests for the early detection of pancreatic cancer. The Pancreas, Biliary and Liver Surgery Center is under the leadership of Drs. Michael Wayne, Franklin Kassim and Avram Cooperman.

6 Feb 2010

Michael J. Fox Foundation announces more than $2.8M in awards to discover biomarkers of PD

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research today announced more than $2.8 million in awards for 13 new projects to speed the discovery of biomarkers of PD.

4 Feb 2010

Scientists still searching for valid biomarker for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder affect tens of millions of individuals around the world. These disorders have a typical onset in the early twenties and in most cases have a chronic or recurring course.

4 Feb 2010

Finland commits 1.85M as initial funding for development of European biomedical research infrastructures

Finland has made its first specific commitment to the development of European biomedical research infrastructures (BMS ESFRIs) by supporting a joint pilot infrastructure project in bioinformatics (ELIXIR), biobanking (BBMRI) and translational research (EATRIS). The initial commitment of 1.85 M- is to support preparation and pilot studies in 2010.

4 Feb 2010

Health Discovery receives final patent infringement payment from Vermillion

Health Discovery Corporation announced today that the Company has received the final payment that was due under the agreement that settled the Company’s patent infringement lawsuit against Vermillion, formerly known as Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc.

4 Feb 2010

Study on the role of MCP-1 in obese patients with pancreatic cancer

The levels of an inflammatory chemokine were significantly elevated in patients with pancreatic cancer who were extremely obese, according to research conducted by scientists at the Jefferson Pancreatic, Biliary and Related Cancers Center. They presented their data at the 5th Annual Academic Surgical Congress, held in San Antonio.

4 Feb 2010

Phase 2a clinical trial results of VX-809 in patients with CF announced

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced results from a preliminary analysis of data from a 28-day Phase 2a clinical trial of VX-809 in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) who are homozygous for the F508del mutation.

4 Feb 2010

Validation results of SmartChip Real-Time PCR System to be presented at CHI's conference

WaferGen Biosystems, Inc., a leading developer of state-of-the-art genetic analysis systems, today announced that WaferGen scientists will present validation results of the company's SmartChip™ Real-Time PCR System at Cambridge Healthcare Institute's 17th International Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference.

3 Feb 2010

Maximizing quality in clinical trials is emphasized at community workshop

A community workshop sponsored by SNM's Clinical Trials Network (CTN) officially kicked off on Feb. 1, in Albuquerque, N.M., and presented participants with a series of educational sessions on the use of molecular imaging in clinical trials for investigational therapeutic drugs.

3 Feb 2010

Researchers find three different degenerative brain disorders linked by toxic form of Elk-1 protein

For the first time, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found that three different degenerative brain disorders are linked by a toxic form of the same protein. The protein, called Elk-1, was found in clumps of misshaped proteins that are the hallmarks of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease.

3 Feb 2010

10 new kits available for fast and simple isolation of nucleic acids from blood, plasma and serum

Norgen Biotek Corp., an innovative privately held Canadian biotechnology company focusing primarily on advancing powerful tools for nucleic acids (NA) and protein purification, today announced the launch of 10 new kits for the fast and simple isolation of nucleic acids from blood, plasma and serum, including circulating nucleic acids.

3 Feb 2010

Canary Foundation researcher awarded $11.5M NIH POCRC SPORE grant for early detection ovarian cancer research

Canary Foundation announces its first researcher, Nicole Urban, Sc.D., and collaborators are awarded 5 years of renewed funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the Pacific Ovarian Cancer Research Consortium (POCRC) Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE). The SPORE grant will allow Dr. Urban and fellow researchers to continue work in locating tumor markers and developing blood tests to identify and assess risk and early detection of ovarian cancer. The Listwin Family Foundation and Canary Foundation have been funding Dr. Urban's research since 2002.

3 Feb 2010

Study could provide potential therapeutic strategies for treating prostate cancer

Prostate cancer cells are more likely to spread to other parts of the body if a specific gene quits functioning normally, according to new data from researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

3 Feb 2010

University of Pittsburgh awarded $3.5M NIH grant for WaferGen Biosystems's SmartChip Real-Time PCR System

WaferGen Biosystems, Inc., a leading developer of state-of-the-art genetic analysis systems, today announced that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded a grant to the University of Pittsburgh that includes funding of $350,000 over the grant period for WaferGen's SmartChip™ Real-Time PCR System. The researchers will conduct novel gene expression research in the areas of advanced lung disease and asthma and will use the SmartChip system as the key platform for high throughput validation.

1 Feb 2010

New biomarker may predict treatment outcomes in RA patients

Investigators have identified a biomarker that could help doctors select patients with rheumatoid arthritis who will benefit from therapy with drugs such as Enbrel, a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-antagonist drug.

30 Jan 2010

Researchers use sophisticated brain-imaging techniques to predict Alzheimer's before symptoms appear

Estimates are that some 10 percent of people over the age of 65 will develop Alzheimer's disease, the scourge that robs people of their memories and, ultimately, their lives.

29 Jan 2010

UCLA researchers predict brain's progression to Alzheimer's before symptoms are visible

Estimates are that some 10 percent of people over the age of 65 will develop Alzheimer's disease, the scourge that robs people of their memories and, ultimately, their lives.

29 Jan 2010

VisEn Medical acquires Bayer Schering Pharma AG's fluorescence agent intellectual property portfolios

VisEn Medical Inc., a leader in fluorescence in vivo imaging from research through medicine, announced today that it has acquired the fluorescence imaging agent intellectual property portfolios and related technology platforms from Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany.

29 Jan 2010

Automated measurements more reliable in moderate cases of knee degeneration

Scientists have automated the measurement of a vital part of the knee in images with a computer program that performs much faster and just as reliably as humans who interpret the same images.

28 Jan 2010

Biomarker News and Research

Further Reading

Gene linked to endometrial cancer identified

HDC partners with New York surgery center to develop new molecular diagnostic tests for pancreatic cancer

Michael J. Fox Foundation announces more than $2.8M in awards to discover biomarkers of PD

Scientists still searching for valid biomarker for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Finland commits 1.85M as initial funding for development of European biomedical research infrastructures

Health Discovery receives final patent infringement payment from Vermillion

Study on the role of MCP-1 in obese patients with pancreatic cancer

Phase 2a clinical trial results of VX-809 in patients with CF announced

Validation results of SmartChip Real-Time PCR System to be presented at CHI's conference

Maximizing quality in clinical trials is emphasized at community workshop

Researchers find three different degenerative brain disorders linked by toxic form of Elk-1 protein

10 new kits available for fast and simple isolation of nucleic acids from blood, plasma and serum

Canary Foundation researcher awarded $11.5M NIH POCRC SPORE grant for early detection ovarian cancer research

Study could provide potential therapeutic strategies for treating prostate cancer

University of Pittsburgh awarded $3.5M NIH grant for WaferGen Biosystems's SmartChip Real-Time PCR System

New biomarker may predict treatment outcomes in RA patients

Researchers use sophisticated brain-imaging techniques to predict Alzheimer's before symptoms appear

UCLA researchers predict brain's progression to Alzheimer's before symptoms are visible

VisEn Medical acquires Bayer Schering Pharma AG's fluorescence agent intellectual property portfolios

Automated measurements more reliable in moderate cases of knee degeneration

Discover how SciY empowers scientists

Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

Changing the landscape of R&D to build clinical success from the ground up

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