Beyond pathway profiling and drug discovery, the Gemini™ engine provides a unique approach to the discovery of protein biomarkers. Despite the enormous potential for protein biomarkers in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, current proteomic studies present tremendous analytical challenges. Proteomics is most often practiced using 2D gels or multidimensional LC-MS, but these techniques typically suffer from relatively poor reproducibility, low sensitivity, and large sample requirements. As a result, biomarker discovery is most often focused on human samples where large quantities of protein are easily obtained, such as blood or whole tissue sections. However, these specimens present a complex range of protein components, substantially limiting the ability of current proteomics technologies to achieve comprehensive analysis, particularly for low abundance proteins.

More critically, identified proteins often possess poor disease relevance. Even in the case of whole tissue sections, only a limited glimpse into the relevant proteome is provided, since proteins from both diseased tissue and adjacent normal tissue are convoluted together. To determine relevant phenotypic biomarkers from diseased tissue or the surrounding microenvironment, disease relevant cells must be isolated from the adjacent tissue using microdissection methods such as laser capture microdissection (LCM).

Gemini™ allows Calibrant researchers to isolate vascular tissues immediately adjacent to the disease site, enabling the analysis of secreted protein biomarkers which cannot be discovered by traditional blood profiling. In addition to the potential for these markers in personalized medicine, they also provide value throughout the drug development process.