Alliance to Identify Biomarkers of Choline Deficiency

A research collaboration to identify biomarkers indicative of choline deficiency has been announced by Paradigm Genetics, Inc. (Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; www.paradigmgenetics.com) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC, USA).

Choline is an essential nutrient in the human diet but the body does not synthesize enough to meet its demands. Choline deficiency has been implicated in the onset of liver damage in humans. Under the agreement, UNC will provide Paradigm with serum and urine samples collected as part of its research to determine the required daily amount of choline. Paradigm researchers will then perform biochemical analyses on the biofluid sample and identify the pathways and mechanisms that may be involved.

"Choline deficiency is known to cause progressive liver damage and has been associated with increased risk of hepatic cancer in experimental models,” said Thomas J. Colatsky, Ph.D., vice president of healthcare research for Paradigm. "Current serum markers of liver injury lack the sensitivity and specificity to differentiate among patients with simple or more complex forms of liver disease, and often fail to signal its early onset.”

Paradigm uses a systems biology approach to understand gene function in the context of biologic pathways, and to develop assays and biomarkers for molecular diagnostic solutions tailored to the needs of its partners. The company's proprietary Gene to Cell to System approach has four major components: gene expression profiling, biochemical profiling, phenotypic profiling, and data integration and coherence.





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