Biomarker analysis

When organ injury is clinically determined, the injury is often irreversible. Therefore, it is important to have sensitive and accurate assays for determining organ/tissue injury in an early phase. HaemoScan has developed such assays which can determine the release of specific proteins in blood or urine which serve as an indicator for organ specific injury.

(Academic) clinical studies

Biomarkers are gaining popularity because of their early release and the possibility for non-invasive analysis of human health. Biomarkers are measurable parameters that reflect the state of a biological process. An often-cited definition of a biomarker is: “A characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention [1].” Biomarkers are used to screen for, diagnose or monitor disease and are also used to assess a therapeutic response [2]. The term biomarker is typically used for molecular biomarkers measured in blood. HaemoScan has experience with university medical centers all over the world and has been involved in multiple studies with diverse topics, such as intensive care medicine, nephrology, thoracic surgery, sports medicine and rehabilitation. Our laboratory is equipped with the latest technologies to perform customized studies with small or large batches of samples. Moreover, we are specialized in developing new methods for measuring biomarkers in small amounts of biological fluids, such as plasma, serum or urine, making fast and non-invasive measurements possible. Please feel free to contact us to see if we can be of assistance to your project.

Recent publications that made use of our services:

Stability of tubular damage markers epidermal growth factor and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor in urine.
Harskamp LR, Meijer E, van Goor H, Engels GE, Gansevoort RT.
Clin Chem Lab Med. 2019 Mar 5. pii: /j/cclm.ahead-of-print/cclm-2019-0152/cclm-2019-0152.xml.

Patient-specific evolution of renal function in chronic heart failure patients dynamically predicts clinical outcome in the Bio-SHiFT study.
Brankovic M, Akkerhuis KM, van Boven N, Anroedh S, Constantinescu A, Caliskan K, Manintveld O, Cornel JH, Baart S, Rizopoulos D, Hillege H, Boersma E, Umans V, Kardys I.
Kidney Int. 2018 Apr;93(4):952-960.

Real-Life Use of Neurohormonal Antagonists and Loop Diuretics in Chronic Heart Failure: Analysis of Serial Biomarker Measurements and Clinical Outcome.
Brankovic M, Akkerhuis KM, van Boven N, Manintveld O, Germans T, Brugts J, Caliskan K, Umans V, Constantinescu A, Kardys I.
Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2018 Aug;104(2):346-355.

Urinary Biomarkers to Identify Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Patients With a High Likelihood of Disease Progression.
Messchendorp AL, Meijer E, Boertien WE, Engels GE, Casteleijn NF, Spithoven EM, Losekoot M, Burgerhof JGM, Peters DJM, Gansevoort RT; DIPAK Consortium.
Kidney Int Rep. 2017 Oct 14;3(2):291-301.

Early biomarkers of brain injury and cerebral hypo- and hyperoxia in the SafeBoosC II trial.
Plomgaard AM, Alderliesten T, Austin T, van Bel F, Benders M, Claris O, Dempsey E, Fumagalli M, Gluud C, Hagmann C, Hyttel-Sorensen S, Lemmers P, van Oeveren W, Pellicer A, Petersen TH, Pichler G, Winkel P, Greisen G.
PLoS One. 2017 Mar 22;12(3):e0173440.

Our biomarker analysis services include:

• Advice on which biomarkers to analyse.
• Assistance with sample collection protocol, including labels, tubes/container, storage, etc.
• Development and validation of new assays, including variation, stability, linearity, recovery and batch control.
• Performing the actual analysis.
• Assistance in writing scientific publications (for instance the materials & methods section).

Who make use of our services:

• Academic institutions.
• Other contract research organizations.
• Small and medium-sized enterprises operating in life sciences and pharma.

References
[1] Biomarkers Definitions Working Group Bethesda. Biomarkers and surrogate endpoints: preferred definitions and conceptual framework. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2001;69(3):89–95.
[2] Rifai N, Gillette MA, Carr SA. Protein biomarker discovery and validation: the long and uncertain path to clinical utility. Nature Biotechnology. 2006;24(8):971–83.