Software Tool for Complex Biomarker Discovery

A continuing and growing threat to U.S. military personnel and civilians is exposure to toxic chemicals and pathogens. Because of this, detection of exposure to chemical and biological agents is a priority for biodefense, combat readiness, and public health. One promising approach is to measure response of global gene, small RNA, and/or protein expression to varying levels and time courses of exposure. However, many studies suffer from a lack of reproducibility, and current procedures are often limited to comparing only two outcomes. In Phase I, Celadon, in partnership with David M. Rocke, Ph.D., Director, UC Davis Center for Biomarker Discovery, and Distinguished Professor of Biostatistics, will develop improved procedures and workflows for measuring response of global gene, small RNA, and/or protein expression to varying levels and time courses of toxicant exposure. With a prototype user interface, researchers will be able to select, rank, validate, and verify biomarkers and biomarker signatures. Hundreds to tens of thousands of transcripts or proteins are expected in each data set.