Diagnostics and Biomarkers
Introduction
The Diagnostics and Biomarker Group (DBG) will focus on biomarker discovery for stratification of treatment of infectious diseases with translation into use within the diagnostic laboratory and clinic as a major outcome.To do this we have assembled a multidisciplinary partnership encompassing genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic technologies, as well as expertise in nanotechnology and diagnostic test development and evaluaton.The establishment of a UCLP/LSHTM pathogen biobank which is linked both to the UCLP HTA approved biobank and the Centre of Immunology and transplantation immunophenotyping facility will support the activities of this group.
Stratification of treatment for improving outcomes in infectious disease is well established with routine testing for antimicrobial and antiviral resistance embedded within clinical practice.However, infectious diseases have lagged behind other diseases in the identification of genetic biomarkers which predict the outcome of disease, and drug-related adverse events. Increasing drug resistance, coupled with the availability of more agents for treatment is driving the need for Point of Care Tests (POCTs) to inform rapid treatment decisions. New tools for pathogen sequencing are becoming available for identifiying outbreaks and epidemics as well as surveillance of transmission patterns for public health planning.
The DBG, by linking groups working on the basic science in the diagnostic laboratory and in the clinic, will create a pipeline for pathogen and host biomarker discovery, evaluation for treatment stratification and development as tests for diagnosis and surveillance. By embedding nanotechology expertise with the group, we will address the need for better POCTs, while the links with UCLP hospitals, including UCLH, the Royal Free Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children will facilitate the evaluation of tests. Through the LSHTM we will address the needs of resource poor countries, developing tests that can be successfully used without the need for sophisticated infrastructures.We have already established close links with diagnostic and biotechnology industries which will ensure commercialisation and distribution of appropriate outputs.
Diagnostics and Biomarkers case studies
PATHSEEK
Professor Judy Breuer at UCL leads the PATHSEEK consortium, which gene...