General Methods in Biomarker Research and their Applications

The well-being of humankind is dependent upon advances in biological and clinical sciences. For many diseases, an early diagnosis and objective measures of outcomes are essential for reducing mortality and morbidity. Part of this package entails the appropriate use of biomarkers. These are biological indicators which often are used routinely in the clinical setting. Recent advances in the chemical and physical sciences have enabled new biomarkers to be developed. This does not mean that traditional markers are redundant as detailed investigations have identified both limitations and advantages in their usage as well as new applications. This book General Methods in Biomarker Research and their Applications combines both traditional, new and emerging biomarkers in a single publication. The chapters contained in this book have wide applicability to many diseases.