Biomarkers and Systems Medicine

The Biomarkers and Systems Medicine (BSM) group uses proteomic/peptidomic biomarkers for the early detection of disease states.

The group is developing panels of biomarkers from body fluids to provide clinically applicable tests in the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases, as well as being able to provide details of progress in therapeutic treatments. The long term goal being personalised medicine, where simple analysis of an individual’s proteome can help diagnose specific conditions and inform and monitor treatment. Conventional biomarkers have failed to provide sufficient sensitivity and selectivity to allow early detection of many diseases. The BSM group, in conjunction with several leading research institutions worldwide, have developed urinary (non-invasive) tests that detect the onset of a range of diseases, before the occurrence of classic symptoms; these include coronary artery disease (CAD), preeclampsia, chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetic nephropathy (DN), prostate and bladder cancer.  In addition, the identification of the individual disease biomarkers and the proteins that they originate from provides an insight to the pathophysiological changes that occur at the onset of the disease. This information will also contribute to the development of novel drug candidates

The research has led to a number of publications in leading international journals like e.g.

Journal of Hypertension. Molecular and Cellular Proteomics. Mass Spectrom Rev

Biomarker Discovery:  Harald Mischak, Bill Mullen