Genetic and Proteomic Biomarker Detection Using Microarray-Based Assays

John Austin, Aushon BioSystems, Billerica, MA - USA

Abstract: A biomarker is a physical or chemical indicator of a biological state. It is defined by the U.S. National Institute of Health as a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biologic processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention. Historically, biomarkers have been physiological indicators, such as body temperature serving as an indicator of infection, but recently the definition of a biomarker has evolved to include molecular biomarkers as well. Molecular biomarkers represent the measured change in the expression or state of a molecule. Molecular biomarkers can be changes at the genomic level (e.g. the BRCA1 mutation as a biomarker of breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility) or the proteomic level (e.g. elevated prostate specific antigen as a biomarker of prostate cancer).

Medically, molecular biomarkers are powerful tools as they can be used as indicators of the risk of a disease, the presence of a disease, the progression of a disease, or even the likely effectiveness of a particular treatment. The identification and validation of molecular biomarkers for a wide variety of disease states has been and continues to be an exciting area of research as it promises to make the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease both personal and more effective. Personalized treatment based on molecular biomarkers can and will cover a very wide range of diseases. In time, molecular biomarkers and biomarker tests for most diseases will surely be discovered. As in many clinical research endeavors, priority is applied first to the most serious disease types, and therefore much effort in biomarker discovery and detection is presently being devoted to cancer.

This talk will focus on the use of microarrays for detecting and characterizing molecular biomarkers, with emphasis on proteomic biomarkers. Recent development in protein microarrays will be described, including the use forward phase microarrays (antibodies) and reverse phase microarrays (lysates, plasma, sera etc.)

About the speaker: Aushon BioSystems is a 5-year old US Company located near Boston, Massachusetts. Aushon provides microarray solutions and services to a wide range of clients. John Austin is a Founder of Aushon BioSystems and currently serves as its Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. He holds a Ph.D. from University College London and a BSc from the University of Wales. He has over 24 years experience leading large, multi-disciplinary, state-of-the-art research programs at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory, where he played a key role in several projects resulting in major defense acquisition programs.