Disease Biomarkers

A biomarker is a measurable indicator of a biological state or condition, such as a specific protein, genetic mutation, or metabolic product. Biomarkers are used to detect disease, predict how it is likely to progress, or monitor a patient's response to treatment.

Biomarkers fall into several broad categories: genetic (DNA mutations or variants), protein-based (such as enzymes or antibodies detectable in blood), and metabolic (small molecules that change in concentration with disease activity). Different applications call for different biomarker types: a diagnostic biomarker confirms the presence of disease, while a prognostic biomarker helps estimate its likely course.

Identifying and validating a reliable biomarker is a significant undertaking, requiring confirmation across diverse patient samples and careful assay development. This is a core focus of our R&D and Diagnostic Research services.