TORONTO, July 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - ChondroGene Limited announced today that its scientists will be presenting results of its ongoing research activities in a presentation entitled "The Peripheral Blood Transcriptome Dynamically Reflects System Wide Biology: A New Diagnostic Tool" at the 11th Annual SCBA International Symposium being held in San Francisco from July 19 to 23.
The results presented at the meeting show that ChondroGene's proprietary Sentinel Principle(TM), developed by Dr. C.C. Liew, ChondroGene's Chief Scientific Officer, can be used to detect tissue specific gene transcripts in peripheral blood that relate to gene expression in tissue. Approximately 80% of the genes expressed in the tissues studied were also identified in blood. Different tissue types were examined in the research including brain, colon, heart, kidney, liver, lung, prostate, spleen, and stomach. The ability to identify gene expression in blood that is related to gene expression in specific tissues, the essence of the Sentinel Principle, forms the basis of the Company's blood-based molecular diagnostic tests currently in development. The Company has published papers reporting results across a broad range of human diseases using the Sentinel Principle.
"The Sentinel Principle is a powerful technology that not only can be used to develop advanced molecular diagnostic tests, but can also be instrumental in the understanding of human disease leading to the development of new therapeutics," stated C.C. Liew, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of ChondroGene. "Our initial commercial application for the Sentinel Principle is for a blood based test to detect pre-cancerous polyps and colon cancer, ColonSentry(TM). We have also applied the Sentinel Principle to identify biomarker sets for the blood-based detection of other cancers and diseases such as central nervous system disorders, cardiovascular conditions and various forms of arthritis."
About SCBA
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The Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America (SCBA) is a society dedicated to the establishment of fraternity, communication, mutual assistance and improvement of professional career. Their missions are to: (a) Promote research in bioscience; (b) Encourage advancement of biological and medical knowledge; (c) Improve the qualifications and occupational opportunities of its members; (d) Facilitate professional contact among its members; and (e) Establish a spirit of fraternity and international cooperation. Their main goal is to enhance "Science for a Better Life". For additional information go to www.scba2006.org.
About ChondroGene
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ChondroGene is focussed on the application of functional genomics to enable early diagnosis and personalized therapeutic intervention based on disease-specific biomarkers. The company has developed a novel approach, the Sentinel Principle(TM), to detect and stage virtually any disease or medical condition from a simple blood sample. ChondroGene is currently applying the Sentinel Principle in major areas with unmet clinical needs such as cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders. For more information on ChondroGene, visit www.chondrogene.com.
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ChondroGene LimitedCONTACT: Dr. K. Wayne Marshall, President & CEO, (416) 650-0060 x234,wmarshall@chondrogene.com; Bruno Maruzzo, Corporate Development, (416)650-0060 x237, bmaruzzo@chondrogene.com
