Biosensors and Biomarkers

Biosensors and biomarkers are critical tools to dissect and monitor complex physiological states at the level of living single cells and whole organisms and the response of these biosystems to disease. The ability to monitor how mammals carry out signaling between and within their cells and how abnormalities in cell signaling networks cause human diseases will establish a strong foundation for the realization of personalized medicine. Equally important, the development of molecular diagnostics that are linked to specific therapeutic products relies on the discovery and application of biosensors and biomarkers.

The principle goals of this new discipline-based program are two-fold:

• to develop FRET-sensors to enable single-cell, compartment-specific probing of signaling networks regulating metabolism at high temporal-resolution and combine this with microfluidic systems to obtain quantitative and dynamic datasets. These datasets are suitable for systems analysis and mathematical modeling as well as for cell-based assay development to screen for novel innovative drugs.
  
• to develop a platform for rational biomarker discovery based on the integration of human genetics, experimental mouse models, novel proteomics-based technologies and computational modeling for the early detection and classification of diseases such as diabetes and cancer. This will help identifying individuals at high risk to develop a specific disease, guiding treatment decisions and defining subpopulations of patients who are most likely to respond to a given therapy.