Tissue-Based Biomarkers: A Critical Tool in the Development of New Drugs and Therapies

August 30, 2012 - In a post-genomic era that has yielded a wealth of new genes with unknown functions and a growing appreciation that gene expression profiling alone is not sufficient, an understanding of protein expression and activity is needed to determine gene function and to define mechanisms underlying cell function and disease. For these reasons, biomarkers are increasingly valuable in the development of novel drugs that target a variety of molecular sites. Our specialty pathology program offers tissue-based biomarkers to facilitate target validation, proof of target, proof of mechanism and proof of efficacy. We use immunohistochemical detection to demonstrate marker proteins within target tissues. With a plethora of antibodies available to target molecular sites that control cellular processes, we use antibodies of the highest possible quality to visualize protein expression at the cellular level through light and fluorescent microscopy within intact tissue.

Charles River currently has qualified staining methods in place for a variety of markers for processes including angiogenesis, apoptosis and cell proliferation, as well as markers for neural cells, hematopoietic and/or inflammatory cells, cytokines, growth factors and cytokine/growth factor receptors. Because each project has its own unique requirements, our pathologists and scientists will work closely with you to identify which markers to assess. If the project demands a marker that we have not utilized in the past, or one that is new to our lab in that particular species, we will do our best to develop a suitable staining method. Once markers have been selected, we will design a scientifically rigorous approach to sample testing and provide a bridge between preclinical and clinical biomarker development.

For more information, please contact askcharlesriver@crl.com.

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