Posts Tagged 'targeted therapies'
The Importance of Biobanking in Molecular Diagnostics & Drug Discovery
Biobanking is a rapidly evolving field that has become central to driving advancements in preclinical research and supporting drug discovery. Biobanks are repositories containing large collections of biological human samples, including tissue samples, blood, and DNA.1 These repositories provide scientists access to a vast array of biosamples for research, which are used to gain further insight…
Read MoreThe Process of Biospecimen Procurement – A Modern Step-by-Step Guide
Biospecimens have been essential in biomarker discovery as far back as the 1980s. Biospecimen procurement is the systematic process of acquiring, storing, and managing biosamples for research for the advancement of personalized medicine and drug development, as shown in Figure 1. However, despite its importance, the process of biobanking, particularly prospective biospecimen collection, has been…
Read MoreSignificance of FFPE Tissue Samples in Preventive Genomics and Precision Medicine
Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues can play a transformative role in preventive genomics and precision medicine. Analysis of DNA and RNA are central to our understanding of disease and disease risk. With FFPE tissues, these biomolecules (and other essential characteristics) are available for scientists to study. The longevity of FFPE tissue samples and their long history…
Read MoreAdvancing Biospecimen Procurement with Cutting-edge Technologies
Imagine a world where diseases can be prevented before they even occur, where medications are tailored specifically to each individual’s genetic makeup, and where new drugs are developed at an unprecedented rate. This future is quickly becoming a reality due to the rapid evolution in technologies the field of biospecimen procurement has witnessed over the…
Read MoreStandardized Preanalytical Coding (SPREC) in Tissue Biobanking
Tissue biobanking involves the collection, processing, storage, and study of biospecimens, such as human biofluids and solid tissue samples1. High biospecimen quality and collection of relevant patient data allow researchers and clinicians to tailor a personalized treatment for a given patient. Furthermore, biobanking allows researchers to assess differences by race and ethnicity for the patient…
Read MoreCancer Statistics, History of Blood Cancer, and the Role of Biobanking
Introduction According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer accounted for nearly 10 million deaths worldwide in 2020 alone.1 This devastating disease can affect any part of the body, occurring when abnormal cells become dysregulated and begin to grow and spread uncontrollably. However, to fully recognize its burden and succeed in cancer research, we must…
Read MoreHow Biomarker Discovery and Validation Supports Targeted Cancer Therapies
Biomarkers are essential tools in oncology research, allowing for early detection, diagnosis, and personalized cancer treatment.1 For this reason, driving innovation in biomarker discovery and validation is critical for developing targeted therapies to improve clinical outcomes. Here, we discuss the concept of biomarkers in the field of oncology and why they have been indispensable to the…
Read MoreBiospecimens in Personalized Medicine – from Promise to Reality
Biospecimens in personalized medicine are a cornerstone for its future development and establishment as a real-life clinical practice. And yet, the crucial role of biosamples and the process of their ethical collection are not well understood. As a biospecimen provider, we consider it part of our mission to educate and raise awareness on this topic. …
Read MoreBlood Cancers Overview – History, Advancements and Challenges
Every September, the world marks Blood Cancer Awareness Month. This year, Audubon Bioscience joined the initiative and its efforts to inform patients about this variable group of malignant pathologies. We support the campaign with this article, which briefly overviews the different types of blood cancers, the most common risk factors, and symptoms, allowing for early…
Read MoreHow Medical Professionals Support Biobanking?
Medical professionals support biobanking by identifying, informing, and protecting the patients willing to donate biosamples to research. Biospecimen procurement relies strongly on all medical staff involved in the process of patient engagement and correct biosample collection. It is therefore, extremely important to understand, appreciate and raise awareness of the importance medical professionals have in…
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