Cover Story
Can Medical Image Analysis Change
the Economics of Drug Development?
By Edward Ashton
In the past decade, medical science has made great strides toward the
understanding of cellular biochemistry and the mechanisms of disease. But as
basic science has blossomed with the sequencing of the genome and the advent of
proteomics, the applied sciences have failed to keep pace. Despite tremendous
innovation in the methods used to derive new compounds, the prevailing methods
for testing them have remained essentially the same for decades. A disease state
is induced in a cohort of laboratory animals — tumor cells are injected under
the skin, for example — and later the experimental treatment is administered
to some or all of the subjects. After a period of weeks or months, the animals
are sacrificed and a pathologist makes an assessment of disease progression or
regression.
The Microscale Laboratory
A History of DNA Microarrays
By Tom A. van de Goor
Each human cell contains an estimated 30,000 genes. At birth these genes are
present and, unless mutations occur, remain stable during the person's entire
life. The genetic make-up determines what a cell can do and whether there is an
inherent susceptibility to a particular disease.
Discovery by Design
On Predicting Side Effects and the Limitations of Rational Drug Design
By Lukas K. Buehler
What should be surprising to researchers in drug development is how much we
still depend on trial and error stages.
Microarrays on the Spot
The Importance of Introducing Gene Expression Analysis Into Pharmacological
Development
By Joseph Monforte
While it is important to observe more than one gene, there are no
30,000-gene diseases, nor are there compounds that affect 30,000 genes
Articles
Using Microarrays to Detect Disease and Tailor Therapy
By Rob Lipshutz
Starting in the 1990's, a genome sequencing revolution began that propelled
research into the modern genetic era. Inexpensive, reliable, and automated DNA
sequencing methods allowed scientists to sequence the complete genomes of
organisms ranging from lowly bacteria and viruses to higher plants, animals and
humans. In the wake of this flood of information, we are now faced with the far
more daunting task of determining how knowledge of billions of nucleotide bases
can be put to practical use to improve human health and treat disease
