About the Biomarker Discovery laboratory
The Biomarker Discovery laboratory is dedicated to the development of biomarker analytical assays and discovery programs. The laboratory provides not only the facility and expertise to analyse known biomarkers, but also the opportunity to discover and develop novel biomarkers that are of clinical utility in the diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of disease conditions.
Biomarker Discovery further affords the opportunity to study mechanisms of disease progression and therapeutic responses. The academic research within the laboratory is centred on the areas of cardiovascular pharmacology, cardiorenal syndrome, and identification of novel therapeutic targets for drug discovery and development.
We are a highly specialised team whose research has gone from strength to strength conducting research from cells to animals and human clinical trials; a truly bench to bedside research team. We have been very productive in producing many high impact publications and patents as well as has been instrumental in securing two NHMRC Program Grants since 2005 and this success continues with a new Program Grant funded from 2016–2020.
Currently the laboratory has a wide range of capabilities in preclinical studies and drug discovery, which includes cell and molecular biology, protein biochemistry, drug design and development, pharmacology, biomarkers and in vivo animal models for cardiac and renal diseases studies. The laboratory’s in vitro capability includes primary culture of cardiac myocytes and cardiac fibroblasts, vascular cells, kidney cells, blood cells and cell lines. The laboratory utilise those cell culture to conduct a broad range of preclinical studies including early phase pharmacological and drug discovery studies, drug target discovery, cellular efficacy validation as well as cellular toxicity studies. The laboratory also has a very strong preclinical efficacy study capability that they have several well-established and routinely performed in vivo preclinical models for both cardiac and renal diseases. The laboratory is well-equipped with strong expertise in analysis of cardiac (echocardiography, haemodynamic and pressure-volume loop analysis) and renal (direct glomerular filtration rate) function as well as all the post tissue processing.
Our research is focused on three areas:
- Cardiorenal pharmacology and fibrosis
Our current research is targeting the investigation of the underlying mechanisms of cardiorenal fibrosis, therapeutic target and drug discovery. This includes the roles of uremic toxins, sphingolipids and related metabolic enzymes in cardiorenal fibrosis. - Biomarker discovery
Biomarker discovery is another key area of interest. Currently, we are conducting assays for several clinical trials including SCREEN-HF, ABNP2, RESTORE and BLOCKADE. We also collaborate with external institutions extensively in biomarker assays.
- Wearable devices for chronic disease management
Our research also involves wearable devices development and digital health. We aim to develop multifunction monitoring for the management of chronic disease patients including heart failure and chronic kidney disease.