Renowned clinical institutions have investigated potential biomarkers for serious diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular and infections. The Biomarker Discovery Center (BDC) in Heidelberg provides research institutions with the opportunity to identify candidates for novel genome and transcriptome biomarkers using dedicated biochips and nextgeneration sequencing.
Results from miRNA biomarkers will be presented in oral and poster presentations at ESHG, including new data for lung cancer, ovarian cancer and multiple sclerosis. Presenters include J. Hoheisel, Ph.D., DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, A. El Sharawy, Ph.D., University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany, A. Keller, Ph.D.,BDC, Heidelberg, Germany, P. Staehler, febit gmbh, Heidelberg, Germany, and. J. Wischhusen, Ph.D., Gynecological Clinic, University of Wuerzburg, Germany.
febit performs the technical analysis and bioinformatics and supports researchers conducting largescale studies that include hundreds of patient samples so that they can achieve statistically meaningful results. "Taking a novel methodological approach, febit analyzes miRNA patterns in easily accessible blood samples instead of organ tissues or biopsy samples. Therefore results can be translated much more readily into tests for routine use," said Peer Staehler, CSO of febit. "The comparison of specific miRNA sets, for example from cancer patients versus healthy individuals, reveals significant changes in the regulation of miRNAs. These modified miRNA patterns form an individual fingerprint for each disease."
The small nonproteincoding miRNAs are a major focus of the work done by the BDC research association and are supported by the BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research). febit's miRNA assays yield convincing results that may ultimately enter routine diagnostics to replace established, but less reliable, markers.
For more information please visit www.febit.com or booth B528 at the ESHG Annual Conference 2010.