Rules-Based Medicine (RBM), developer of biomarker maps and testing tools for specific diseases, recently announced a research award of $3 million from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The award will go to expand and enhance the company's OncologyMAP program for discovery and development of novel diagnostic and prognostic cancer tests. RBM's biomarker tools are healthcare innovations developed to measure disease-specific alterations and abnormal levels of certain blood analytes, even at early stages. Biomarker testing results can also be used in drug research and pre-clinical trials screening to identity patients who are most likely to respond to a given therapy, making clinical trials results more effective.
RBM already has commercialized VeriPsych the first blood test available to aid psychiatrists in diagnoising recent-onset schizophrenia based on patient biomarkers. Another biomarker panel in development will be used in the early diagnosis of Alzheimers Disease.
In a press release announcing the research award, Karri Ballard, Ph.D., RBM's Director of Diagnostic Initiatives, noted that 'Better cancer outcomes begin with more accurate and earlier detection. Advanced prognostic and companion diagnostic tests are on the minds of clinicians, patients and administrators, who all desire effective and efficient tools to help save lives. An expanded OncologyMAP effort applied to numerous types of malignancies heightens the chances of identifying and validating these important tools.' The CPRIT highlighted RMB as an example of healthcare innovation and groundbreaking research that brings science one step closer to a cure for cancer. Via
www.rulesbasedmedicine.com.