Biomarker Commons

Recently, the Journal of the American Heart Association published conclusive results from a study directed by Dr. Éric Thorin of the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI), which suggests for the first time that a blood protein contributes to the early development of atherosclerosis.

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have helped identify many of the biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease that could potentially predict which patients will develop the disorder later in life. Now, studying spinal fluid samples and health data from 201 research participants at the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, the researchers have shown the markers are accurate predictors of Alzheimer's years before symptoms develop.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) recently announced it has acquired two investigational positron emission tomography (PET) tracers from Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. The tracers are intended to image tau (or neurofibrillary) tangles in the brain, one of two known hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Based on studies of samples obtained at autopsy, the amount and location of tau tangles in an Alzheimer's disease patient's brain is thought to correlate with the severity of the disease.

The AgedBrainSYSBIO project on systems biology of synapse proteins & ageing was officially launched recently in Paris, France. AgedBrainSYSBIO is a European collaborative research project funded by the European Commission under the Health Work Programme of the 7th Framework Programme. This multidisciplinary consortium assembles 14 academic and industrial internationally renowned research teams from Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Israel, United Kingdom and Switzerland.

A preliminary research study, which found that adult stem cells may be functionally reprogrammed to act like younger cells, was recently presented by Dr. Vincent Giampapa at The Second International Vatican Stem Cell Conference: Regenerative Medicine – A Fundamental Shift in Science and Culture, from within the Vatican, held between April 11-13, 2013. The research, which has potential implications in the restoration of human immune function, was conducted by researchers affiliated with CellHealth Institute.

CellHealth™ Institute (CHI), a new biotechnology company that provides breakthrough products, services and lifestyle education in the emerging category of personalized cell health recently launched with the backing of key investors. John Malone Ph.D., chairman of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LMCA) has invested $2 million in CellHealth Institute.