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Biomarkers are biological characteristics that are objectively measured and evaluated as indicators of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes or pharmacological responses to a therapeutic intervention. Biomarkers can be used to determine disease onset, progression, efficacy of drug treatment, patient susceptibility to develop a certain type of disease or predict efficacy of treatment at a particular disease stage. Understanding and harnessing the power of biomarkers is a considerable challenge, because of the wide range of skill sets required in such projects.

Biomarker discovery projects can be hypothesis-driven or non-hypothesis-driven. In the first approach, the scientific evidence indicates that a protein, metabolite or other analyte may be a biomarker for the purposes of your research, and specific targeted approaches to measuring the analyte taken. In the alternative approach, non-hypothesis-driven approach a relatively high-throughput or parallel approach is taken in which many analytes are scanned, typically using techniques such as proteomics or metabolomics.

 

translational biomarkers

RxCelerate have experience of both approaches and use our understanding and background in biomarker discovery combined with the problem being investigated to choose one approach over another, or a combination of both.

For a hypothesis driven approach RxCelerate offer services in assay development and validation, in particular for protein analytes using techniques such as ELISA. We also have a Luminex multiplex analyser in house, and are experienced in running multiplex protein assays, for example for cytokine analysis. We can also offer a LC-MS/MS service in which we have extensive expertise in the development, validation and use of mass spectrometry assays, to perform quantitative analysis in a variety of sample matrices.

For non-hypothesis-driven approaches we have experience in proteomics and metabolomics techniques, and we partner with external suppliers to use up-to-date technology platforms combined with our in-house bioinformatics skills to evaluate the results obtained.