SCI 6710
Technologies for Biomarker and Drug Discovery

This course focuses on the use of high throughput technologies in biomarker discovery, small molecule drug discovery, and basic research. In the context of biomarker discovery, we will cover proteomics based on mass spectrometry and other methods. Relevant to nucleic acid biomarkers, we will discuss next generation sequencing based approaches for genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic analyses, in addition to microarray and PCR based methods. Relevant to drug discovery, we will discuss disease model systems and high throughput as well as high content (i.e. cell-based) methods for compound library screening and lead optimization. The trend towards personalized medicine has encouraged the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industries to partner more closely. Biomarkers discovery and validation is of central importance in advancing personalized medicine. The course consists of class discussions, assigned readings and computer exercises, in addition to student presentations.